Texas City Passes Moratorium on Fiber-Optics Projects After Water Lines Damage
The city council in Katy, Texas, has issued a moratorium on fiber-optics projects after construction damage broke 16 water lines in the past six months.
Fiber optics companies will now be required to sign a contract with the city before digging. The moratorium measure was unanimously approved, and the council plans to pass an ordinance outlining construction protocols for future projects.
Without an ordinance in place, companies can dig into easements in residents’ yards without knowing where water lines are. Several water lines have been broken, leading to a lengthy insurance claim process. Residents have also been left without water for extended periods of time when lines were damaged, according to one council member.
According to details shared at the Feb. 24 City Council meeting and reported by The Houston Chronicle, the moratorium will allow the city of Katy ample time to draft an ordinance dictating how and where companies dig. The ordinance will require companies to coordinate with the city to ensure water lines are properly marked before digging begins and will also require companies to have enough capital on hand to pay for damage immediately, should they occur.
Trump Administration to Shift Funding, Preference for Fiber Optics Infrastructure
According to TechSpot, the Trump administration has announced a shift that will eliminate the preference for fiber optic Internet infrastructure within the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. This change is expected to redirect substantial funding towards non-fiber technologies, such as Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite service, potentially allocating between $10 billion and $20 billion to such providers.
This move marks a departure from the Biden administration’s approach, which emphasized fiber-optic networks as the most future-proof and reliable option for broadband deployment, TechSpot reported.
The BEAD program was authorized by Congress in November 2021, with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) developing rules under the Biden administration. These rules prioritized end-to-end fiber-optic architecture due to its ability to be easily upgraded by replacing equipment at the ends of fiber-optic facilities.
This approach also supports the deployment of 5G and other advanced wireless services, which rely heavily on fiber for backhaul. However, the Trump administration has criticized these rules as overly restrictive and ineffective.
The Trump administration is adopting a “tech-neutral” approach to provide Internet access at the lowest cost to taxpayers. This shift includes exploring ways to cut government red tape that slows down infrastructure construction to deliver high-speed Internet access efficiently and effectively.
HYLAN Launches Gas, Pipeline Division to Transform Infrastructure Solutions
HYLAN, a market-leading provider of full-service turnkey communications solutions, electrical infrastructure design, and utility construction services, is expanding its capabilities with the launch of its new Pipeline Division. This strategic growth enables HYLAN to meet a broader range of critical infrastructure needs, supporting the evolving demands of the energy, utility, and transportation sectors while upholding the same standard of excellence that defines its brand. HYLAN’s Pipeline services will be available across the lower 48 states, further solidifying its position as a trusted partner in infrastructure development.
“HYLAN has long been recognized as a leader in turnkey communications solutions and electrical infrastructure design and construction, serving the wireline, wireless, and smart city sectors across the U.S.,” said Robert DiLeo, CEO and Chairman of HYLAN. “By expanding our capabilities to include gas and pipeline services across the US, we are further strengthening our role as a premier infrastructure provider.”
By leveraging its deep industry expertise, advanced technology, and commitment to safety and efficiency, HYLAN is bringing pipeline construction, maintenance, hydrostatic testing, horizontal drilling, and more into its portfolio.
HYLAN’s new gas and pipeline services include pipeline maintenance and construction, station maintenance and construction, horizontal directional drilling, hydrostatic testing, sandblasting, inspection and repairs, launcher and receiver construction, and valve and regulator settings.
Fort Worth Begins Two-Year Water, Sewer Main Replacement Downtown
Construction is underway in downtown Fort Worth to replace aging water and sewer mains, aiming to improve service reliability. Work began on March 3 and is expected to take two years, with a seven-week pause during the 2026 World Cup.
The project, led by Circle C Construction, involves replacing large cast iron water mains and one sewer main across multiple streets on the west side of downtown. The work will be carried out in 12 phases, with significant traffic impacts expected throughout construction. Businesses in the area will maintain at least one point of access at all times.
The project falls within Fort Worth Council District 9 and will impact the Fort Worth Downtown Neighborhood Alliance. Nearby landmarks include Trinity Terrace, First Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church, the new City Hall, and various apartments and businesses.
Stantec to Lead Engineering for $800 Million Mojave Groundwater Bank
Cadiz Inc. has selected Stantec Inc. to oversee the development and construction of the Mojave Groundwater Bank, an $800 million project aimed at expanding water storage and supply in California’s Mojave Desert.
Once completed, the project will provide 2.5 million acre-feet of new water supply and 1 million acre-feet of underground storage. A 350-mile pipeline network will connect the system to the Colorado River and California Aqueducts, making it the largest new water infrastructure project in the Southwest.
As Owner’s Engineer, Stantec will help select a contractor under a Construction Management at Risk model and lead the engineering, procurement, and construction management process.
“Water supply variability resulting from climate change threatens long-term water security throughout the Western U.S., and the water delivery system must be updated and expanded to safely and reliably meet the needs of our communities,” said John Hanula, senior vice president at Stantec.
Located about 40 miles north of the Colorado River Aqueduct and 220 miles east of California’s State Water Project facilities, the Mojave Groundwater Bank sits on an underground aquifer system holding an estimated 30 to 50 million acre-feet of water – more than what’s currently stored in Lake Mead and Lake Powell combined.
The project is permitted to deliver water to communities in the Mojave River Basin, Colorado River Basin, and California’s Inland Empire. It will also store up to 1 million acre-feet of imported water, easing pressure on the State Water Project and Colorado River systems.
Two Workers Killed in Maryland Trench Collapse During Home Renovation
According to the Associated Press, two construction workers recently lost their lives after a trench collapsed while they were working on a home renovation project in Catonsville, Md., fire officials confirmed.
The incident occurred the morning of Feb. 28 when a retaining wall inside the trench gave way, trapping the workers, Lt. Twana Allen of the Baltimore County Fire Department told AP. Emergency crews quickly responded and launched a rescue effort.
Before retrieving the victims, responders had to stabilize the trench and clear away debris, officials said. The recovery process lasted until the evening. Investigators are working to determine what caused the collapse, Allen said.
Estimated Cost to Replace Canada Water Pipeline Nearly Doubled Since Last Year
According to CBC Canada News, the estimated cost of replacing an aging water pipeline for the city of Yellowknife has nearly doubled in less than one year.
Consulting firm AECOM presented a report to the city council outlining the project costs. The latest report shows a new pipeline will cost up to $107.7 million, up almost double from the 2024 estimate of $62.7 million, and tripled from the initial 2017 estimate of $34.5 million.
Detailed upgrade designs for pumphouses and replacement of the pipeline are said to be the reason for the price jump, according to CBC Canada News.
The city of Yellowknife has relied on an eight-kilometer pipeline to draw water from the Yellowknife River since 1968. The Yellowknife Bay was previously used as a primary water source until concerns about arsenic contamination were raised, prompting the switch.
The report presented options and associated costs between keeping Yellowknife River as the primary source and replacing the pipeline or switching to Yellowknife Bay and conducting a study to evaluate potential arsenic risk, which would be considerably cheaper, AECOM stated.
$265 Million in Funding Approved for North Carolina Water Projects
Communities across North Carolina will receive more than $265 million in funding for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects, Governor Josh Stein has announced. The loans and grants will help to pay for 99 projects in 45 different counties. The awards include funding to address emerging contaminants (PFAS) and identify and replace lead pipes.
The funding will go to numerous infrastructure projects across the state, including lead and copper service line replacements, septic system replacements, PFAS removal, and construction of new water lines.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ)’s Division of Water Infrastructure reviewed 203 eligible applications, which requested a total of $1.63 billion. The State Water Infrastructure Authority approved the awards during its Feb. 19 meeting.
Funding this round came from the Drinking Water (DWSRF) and Clean Water (CWSRF) State Revolving Loan Funds, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Emerging Contaminants funds, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Lead Service Line Replacement fund, the Drinking Water and Wastewater State Reserves, the Viable Utilities Reserve, and the Community Development Block Grant-Infrastructure (CDBG-I) program. Projects funded with Viable Utility Reserve funds are subject to approval by the Local Government Commission.
Work Progresses on $66 Million Upgrade to San Diego’s First Aqueduct
The San Diego County Water Authority has reached the halfway point on a $66 million project to extend the life of the historic First Aqueduct and maintain reliable water delivery across the region.
The Southern First Aqueduct Facilities Improvement Project, set to continue through summer 2026, involves renovations to 99 structures along two large-diameter pipelines running from North to South County.
The First Aqueduct, built in the late 1940s and 1950s, supplies 11 water agencies countywide. The three-and-a-half-year project covers a 21-mile stretch, beginning north of Escondido and east of Interstate 15, continuing south through Slaughterhouse Canyon in unincorporated San Diego County, and ending at San Vicente Reservoir in Lakeside. The work spans Escondido, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, and parts of unincorporated San Diego County.
Phase One, which began in spring 2024, focused on Pipeline 2 structures and is scheduled to conclude at the end of February. Once completed, work will shift to Pipeline 1 while keeping the other pipeline operational to prevent water service interruptions.
To transition to Phase Two, crews worked around the clock for 10 days from Feb. 23 to March 4, with night work at seven locations. Most sites are in undeveloped areas with a minimal impact on residents or businesses.
South Dakota Governor Signs Bill Banning Eminent Domain for Carbon Pipeline
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has signed HB 1052 into law, protecting landowners’ property rights by prohibiting the use of eminent domain for pipelines transporting carbon oxide.
The bill aims to address concerns over landowner rights while still allowing voluntary easements for the project to proceed.
In a letter to the South Dakota legislature and residents, Governor Rhoden explained the rationale behind his decision: “HB 1052 does not kill the proposed project. Rather than viewing this legislation as an obstacle to the proposed project, I encourage the Summit and others to view it as an opportunity for a needed reset. Voluntary easements for this proposed project will still be able to move forward… Without the threat of eminent domain, the opportunity might finally be available for trust to be rebuilt and for more productive conversations to occur between Summit and South Dakota landowners.” UI
