WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Michael L. Connor announced 44 projects in 11 states that will receive $20.8 million in WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants from Reclamation. Reclamation estimates that together the 44 projects could save more than 100,000 acre-feet of water annually — enough for more than 400,000 people. Through reduced pumping and the addition of more efficient equipment, these projects are anticipated to save 10.8 million kilowatt-hours annually — enough energy to power nearly 1,000 households. 

PUNTA GORDA, FLA. — Consulting firm Weiler Engineering Corporation was selected by the American Public Works Association (APWA) for the National Public Works “Project of the Year” for environmental projects over $75 million for the City of Marathon Sewer, Stormwater, Reclaimed Water and Road Rehabilitation project in Marathon, Fla. The award follows on the footsteps of the Florida Chapter APWA award for “Project of the Year” for the same project, as well as statewide “Consultant of the Year” for wastewater projects. 

NEW YORK — New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Carter Strickland announced that the recently completed installation of green infrastructure in the Edenwald section of the Bronx will prevent nearly 2 million gallons of stormwater from reaching the combined sewer system each year and thereby improve the health and cleanliness of the Hutchinson River and New York Harbor. As part of the $300,000 project, DEP worked with the Department of Parks and Recreation to build 22 bioswales to collect and absorb stormwater, along Schiefflin Avenue between East 226th Drive and East 229th Street. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — With 13 Republican and 13 Democratic co-sponsors, Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) introduced The Partnership to Build America Act (H.R. 2084). The Partnership to Build America Act creates a $50 billion dollar infrastructure fund that can be leveraged to $750 billion. This fund will be capitalized by the sale of 50-year bonds that are not guaranteed by the federal government and pay 1 percent interest rate. The fund will provide loans or loan guarantees to states and municipalities to finance transportation, energy, communications, water, and education infrastructure projects. 

 OMAHA, NEB. — HDR, Inc. was named the “2013 Employer of the Year” by WTS International, an association for the professional advancement of women in transportation. The Employer of the Year recognition is awarded to an organization that has enhanced the transportation industry through its commitment to excellence and quality in services or products, has an outstanding record of affirmative action in hiring and promoting at all employment levels, supports continuing education of its employees, and encourages women students to enter the transportation field by providing internship opportunities. 

FAIRFAX, VA — Dewberry, a privately held architecture, engineering, and consulting company, acquired Bowyer-Singleton & Associates, Inc. Headquartered in Orlando, Fla., Bowyer-Singleton is a more than 90-person planning, engineering, environmental, and surveying and mapping firm, with four additional offices in the state. 

 UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. — What to do with Marcellus shale wastewater is one of the biggest concerns in Pennsylvania, and few published studies have evaluated such wastewater effects on regional waters, according to a review co-authored by professors at the University of Pittsburgh and Penn State. Published online in the journal Science, the review stresses the need for scientific data on water pollution caused by hydraulic fracturing and cites a lack of monitoring stations and requirements concerning confidentiality as potential causes. 

RESTON, VA. — A new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study documents that the Nation's aquifers are being drawn down at an accelerating rate. “Groundwater Depletion in the United States (1900-2008)” comprehensively evaluates long-term cumulative depletion volumes in 40 separate aquifers (distinct underground water storage areas) in the United States, bringing together reliable information from previous references and from new analyses. 

AMES, IOWA — Grant Schmitz, eyes inches from a 6.5- by 12-foot panel of ultra-high performance concrete, studied the smooth surface for tiny cracks. He and other research engineers carefully marked every one with black markers. Schmitz, an Iowa State graduate student of civil, construction and environmental engineering, and Sri Sritharan, Iowa State’s Wilson Engineering Professor and leader of the ’s College of Engineering's Wind Energy Initiative, were trying to answer some basic questions about using concrete panels and columns to build wind turbine towers using prefabricated, easily transportable components. 

BOSTON — GEI Consultants, Inc. opened an office in Lower Manhattan to support growth and expansion of its geotechnical, geostructural, instrumentation and monitoring, and environmental investigation and remediation services. It appointed Peter Heynen, P.E., to manage the office. 

CHICAGO — The Cascade Water Alliance (Cascade) extended the term of its agreement with Veolia Water North America (Veolia Water) to provide improved operation, maintenance and management (OM&M) services for the White River/Lake Tapps Reservoir Project. The project will serve as a future water supply for seven municipalities in the Puget Sound region. 

Houston — D. Wayne Klotz, P.E., D.WRE, president of Klotz Associates was re-appointed by Mayor Annise Parker to the Coastal Water Authority (CWA) board of directors. The Houston City Council voted in favor of Klotz’s re-appointment during its May 1 meeting. Klotz was first appointed to the CWA board in 2011. He was elected president of the board at his first meeting. 

SAN DIEGO — A new report from the Urban Land Institute (ULI) underscores the influence that growing demographic groups in the U.S. — in particular Generation Y, African Americans, and Latinos — will have on reshaping urban growth patterns by spurring more development of compact, mixed-use communities with reliable, convenient transit service. 

IRVING, TEXAS — At its recent annual membership meeting with record-setting attendance, the Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI) honored four individual members and five member-company projects. Winners were recognized for exceptional service and significant achievements involving the use of polyethylene (PE) pipe. 

DURHAM, N.C. — A new study by scientists at Duke University and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) finds no evidence of groundwater contamination from shale gas production in Arkansas. "Our results show no discernible impairment of groundwater quality in areas associated with natural gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing in this region," said Avner Vengosh, professor of geochemistry and water quality at Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment. 

KANSAS CITY, MO. — The week of May 19-25, 2013, marks the annual celebration of National Public Works Week (NPWW), which is sponsored by the American Public Works Association (APWA) to raise awareness of the vitally important contributions of public works professionals and the crucial role that infrastructure, facilities, and services play in the quality of life in all communities. 

CHICAGO — When it comes to flooding in cities, it makes little difference whether a property is located within a floodplain or not — damage happens, happens often, and can inflict significant costs. This stark lack of correlation between property damage claims and recognized floodplains is among the key findings of “The Prevalence and Cost of Urban Flooding,” a report released by the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT). 

ST. PAUL, MINN. — The board of the Stormwater Equipment Manufacturers Association (SWEMA) announced that the organization's 2013-1014 initiatives will focus on expanding its outreach program to help communities attain the goals of the Clean Water Act. 

RESTON, VA. — U.S. topographic maps now have a crisper, cleaner design — enhancing readability of maps for online and printed use, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported. Map symbols are easier to read over the digital aerial photograph layer whether the imagery is turned on or off. Improvements to symbol definitions (color, line thickness, line symbols, area fills), layer order, and annotation fonts are additional features of this supplemental release. Users can now adjust the transparency for some features and layers to increase visibility of multiple competing layers. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. taxpayers paid nearly $100 billion responding to damages caused by last year’s extreme weather events — drought, storms, floods, and wildfires — about $1,100 per taxpayer, according to an analysis by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). By paying nearly $100 billion, taxpayers — through the federal government — spent more on cleanup than on education or transportation, the analysis shows.