SAWS’ Andrea Beymer to deliver UIC sewer/water keynote address
Andrea Huizar Beymer, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the San Antonio Water System (SAWS), will headline the upcoming Underground Infrastructure Conference (UIC) with a keynote address that highlights transformative innovation in the water and wastewater industry.
The presentation will be part of the renowned UIC educational program. It will be held at 11 a.m., Jan. 27, at the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center in San Antonio.
As one of the highest-ranking minority women in the U.S. water sector, Beymer oversees operations for one of the nation’s largest systems, serving 2 million customers across Bexar, Medina, and Atascosa counties. Her leadership spans more than 13,000 miles of water and wastewater infrastructure and a capital budget of $550 million.
Beymer has spearheaded transformative projects that have earned SAWS a place among the leading utilities of the world. A native of San Antonio, Beymer holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering, with a specialization in water resources. She is a licensed professional engineer in Texas.
SAWS continues to lead with a commitment to sustainable growth, recalculating impact fees every five years to ensure new development funds its own infrastructure needs and protecting existing customers from subsidizing expansion.
UIC26 attendees can expect an inspiring keynote that blends technical excellence, strategic foresight, and a deep commitment to community and environmental stewardship.
To attend the Keynote Address and register for the UIC program, go to ui-conference.com.
Granite to build $350 million I-290 drainage, sewer upgrade in Chicago
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has selected Granite for its first Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) contract, advancing a $350 million stormwater and drainage improvement project along the I-290 corridor in Chicago.
The I-290 Drainage Improvements Project will include installation of 3.3 miles of new trunk sewer – up to 90 inches in diameter – along with new detention systems, bridge reconstruction, and retaining wall replacements. The upgrades aim to reduce flooding and improve stormwater management along the Eisenhower Expressway corridor, which is prone to heavy runoff during major storms.
The CM/GC delivery model, used for the first time by IDOT, allows early contractor involvement in the design process to enhance coordination and efficiency before construction begins. Granite’s Midwest Region and Tunnel Division will jointly manage the project.
Preconstruction work is scheduled to start in November 2025, with construction expected to begin in early 2027 and finish by late 2029.
Williams’ $926 million underwater gas pipeline gains approval from NY regulators
New York State has approved the long-contested Williams Northeast Supply Enhancement natural gas pipeline, clearing the final permit needed for construction of the 23.5-mile underwater pipeline that will run within 10 miles of the Rockaway Peninsula. The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) granted a water quality certification and other required permits, reversing three prior denials issued between 2018 and 2020.
The pipeline, developed by Williams Transco, will connect to the company’s existing interstate network and deliver natural gas to New York and surrounding regions. Governor Kathy Hochul defended the decision, citing the need for grid reliability and affordable energy, while environmental groups and local officials condemned the approval as a violation of state climate laws and a threat to marine habitats and water quality.
The DEC said the project will include independent environmental monitors and a $23.5 million mitigation plan to control sediment disturbance during construction. Critics have vowed to challenge the decision in court, arguing the pipeline’s costs and potential contamination risks outweigh its energy benefits.
Texas voters approve $20 billion investment in water infrastructure upgrades
Texas voters have approved a $20 billion statewide investment to modernize water infrastructure, repair aging systems, and expand future water supplies under Proposition 4 — one of the largest water funding measures in state history.
The ballot initiative establishes $1 billion in annual funding for the next 20 years, supporting new supply projects, pipeline and treatment plant upgrades, and conservation technology across both rural and urban communities.
The measure gained strong bipartisan support, with backing from utilities, conservation groups, and business leaders who cited the state’s growing population and frequent droughts as critical motivators.
The funding will help communities replace aging pipes, repair treatment plants, and build new systems to reduce leaks and increase drought resilience. Texas’s population is projected to nearly double by 2050, putting additional pressure on existing infrastructure.
Two Mississippi pipeline projects approved for expedited federal review
The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council has added two major natural gas pipeline projects in the Southeast – Mississippi Crossing and South System Expansion 4 – to its FAST-41 program, which aims to streamline federal reviews for large infrastructure projects.
Both projects, sponsored by Kinder Morgan Inc., are designed to expand natural gas transportation capacity across the region to meet growing demand.
The Mississippi Crossing project, based in Greenville, Mississippi, is a $1.7 billion investment that will add 199 miles of new pipeline extending southeast to Butler, Alabama. It will provide up to 2.1 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas capacity, improving access to multiple supply basins and strengthening market flexibility in the Southeast.
The South System Expansion 4 project, located in Enterprise, Mississippi, will increase capacity by approximately 1.3 Bcf/d through a mix of brownfield looping and new compression across 291 miles of existing infrastructure. The expansion will serve markets from Clarke County, Mississippi, to Aiken, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will lead federal permitting for both projects under FAST-41.
U.S. water reuse boom to fuel $47 billion in infrastructure spending through 2035
Water reuse projects across the United States are projected to drive nearly $47.1 billion in infrastructure investment through 2035, according to a new market report from Bluefield Research.
The report, U.S. Municipal Water Reuse: Market Trends and Forecasts, 2025–2035, highlights growing momentum for recycling treated wastewater as communities seek resilient and sustainable water supplies. Roughly 42% of the projected spending will go toward advanced treatment technologies, while conveyance pipelines—often referred to as “purple pipes”—and engineering design work will account for another 52%.
More than 600 projects are currently in planning or development nationwide, supported by new state-level regulations and changing water demands across urban, agricultural, and industrial sectors.
By 2035, potable reuse systems – where treated water is purified for drinking – are expected to represent 37 percent of new reuse capacity, worth about $19.9 billion. States such as California, Florida, Colorado, and Arizona have already adopted direct potable reuse regulations, while New Mexico, Utah, Kansas, and Nevada are pursuing pilot projects.
“Irrigation applications make up the foundational application for water reuse,” said Bluefield analyst Megan Bondar. “Large potable reuse projects such as the Groundwater Replenishment System in Orange County, California, and the SWIFT project in Virginia’s Hampton Roads Sanitation District are showcasing a change in receptiveness among municipal decision makers.”
The report identifies California, Texas, Florida, and Colorado as key growth markets, together accounting for more than 85 percent of upcoming reuse capacity. While western states remain dominant, Bluefield said momentum is shifting eastward as projects in Virginia, New York, and New Jersey aim to combat saltwater intrusion and improve water quality.
Industrial reuse is also emerging as a major growth driver, particularly among data center operators in regions such as Virginia’s Loudoun County, where reclaimed water networks already deliver more than 800 million gallons annually.
U.S. Army Corps approves Enbridge's $500 million Line 5 Tunnel project
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has granted federal approval for Enbridge’s Line 5 Great Lakes Tunnel, a $500 million project to encase the existing oil pipeline beneath Michigan’s Straits of Mackinac in a concrete tunnel. The permit marks a major milestone for the Canadian energy company’s plan to reinforce one of the region’s most scrutinized pipeline systems.
The Line 5 pipeline, in operation since 1953, transports crude oil and natural gas liquids between Wisconsin and Ontario, with a 4-mile section running along the lakebed where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet. Enbridge proposed the tunnel in 2018 after damage to the pipeline’s protective coating and a boat anchor strike raised environmental and safety concerns.
While the Corps’ environmental review earlier this year acknowledged potential risks – including impacts on wetlands, bat habitats, and aquatic life – federal officials determined the project complied with applicable laws and regulations. The decision follows President Donald Trump’s April directive to expedite energy infrastructure permitting.
The tunnel, to be bored through bedrock beneath the straits, would house a new segment of pipeline designed to reduce the risk of oil spills and improve long-term operational safety. Enbridge still requires a permit from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy before construction can proceed.
The Line 5 project remains the focus of ongoing litigation, including lawsuits filed by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel, who have sought to shut down the existing line. Environmental organizations and tribal groups continue to oppose the project, citing concerns over spill risks and ecosystem disruption.
Utah city launches $70 million tunnel project using box jacking under active rail line
Construction is underway on a major infrastructure milestone in Bluffdale, Utah, where the city is replacing its aging one-lane underpass on 14600 South with a new four-lane tunnel built beneath active Union Pacific and Utah Transit Authority (UTA) rail lines.
According to Wasatch Front News, the $70 million project marks the first use of the “box jacking” tunneling method in the United States, a process that allows engineers to push large pre-constructed tunnel sections under an active rail line without interrupting train operations. Originating in Italy, the technique minimizes surface disruption while maintaining structural safety for ongoing rail traffic.
The new structure will replace a narrow underpass that currently handles roughly 11,000 vehicles per day, serving as one of Bluffdale’s main east–west connections, the Wasatch Front News reported. Once completed, the tunnel will feature four travel lanes and multi-use pathways for pedestrians and cyclists, improving safety and mobility for the growing population of Bluffdale and neighboring Riverton.
City officials said the project, jointly funded by state and local sources, is part of a broader effort to enhance regional connectivity and accommodate rapid development across southern Salt Lake County. The corridor closure is expected to last approximately one year as crews’ complete excavation, structural installation, and surface restoration.
Tunnel replacement begins on Goshen/Gering-Fort Laramie Canal after 2019 collapse
Construction is set to begin this fall on the long-awaited replacement of Tunnel No. 2 along the Goshen/Gering-Fort Laramie Canal – six years after a catastrophic tunnel collapse and canal breach cut off water deliveries to more than 107,000 acres in Nebraska and Wyoming for 44 days.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Oct. 28 at the Goshen Irrigation District office in Torrington, Wyo., followed by a technical briefing at the Tunnel No. 2 site. Initial work this fall will include development of the inlet and outlet structures, construction of access roads, and installation of power lines to support the tunneling operation.
Full excavation is slated to begin in fall 2026, using a purpose-built sequential boring machine and shield designed specifically for the project. Crews will enlarge the existing tunnel in 5-foot increments, removing the original structure and timbers before installing precast, reinforced concrete sections. Once complete, the annular void will be grouted to stabilize the new tunnel.
Replacement of Tunnel No. 1 is expected to follow in late 2027, with the full rehabilitation of both tunnels scheduled for completion by spring 2028. The total project cost is estimated at $150 million. To date, irrigation districts have secured $64.5 million in grants from Nebraska and Wyoming and may access an additional $58.5 million low-interest loan from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
The tunnel replacement marks one of the most significant irrigation infrastructure undertakings in the region’s history, aiming to safeguard future water deliveries and strengthen system resilience against flood and collapse risks.
Florida crews drill 5,000-foot HDD water line beneath East Bay, Fla.
Crews in Bay County, Fla., are drilling beneath East Bay to install a 5,000-foot subaqueous water line that will strengthen water delivery to Tyndall Air Force Base and Mexico Beach, according to MyPanhandle.com.
The new 24-inch fusible PVC pipeline, positioned roughly 70 feet below the bay floor and 120 feet beneath the surface, replaces an aging bridge-mounted pipe that has supplied the region for decades. Crews began horizontal directional drilling (HDD) in August and are using dual rigs on opposite shores to complete an intersecting bore beneath the bay.
“The bay is about 50 feet deep, and they will do what we call an intersecting drill, and they will drill two rigs down to 120 feet deep and intersect, and meet the drills, and they’ll pull one drill out,” said Chad Andrews, regional manager with Underground Solutions reported by MyPanhandle.com.
Once complete, the line will supply up to 14 million gallons of potable water per day, serving both military and civilian systems. Bay County officials said the $6.4 million project is part of a broader effort to reinforce critical coastal and military infrastructure against future disruptions.
Andrews noted the installation ranks among the top 20 longest horizontal directional drill (HDD) crossings for plastic pipe in the U.S. “If everything is done correctly, this pipe should get to the other side and provide water with a very resilient system for the next 100 years,” he said.
The project is expected to be finished by spring 2026.
CenterPoint reaches $2.62 billion deal to sell Ohio gas distribution system
CenterPoint Energy has agreed to sell its Ohio natural gas distribution business, Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio, LLC, to National Fuel Gas Company in a $2.62 billion transaction. The sale includes roughly 5,900 miles of transmission and distribution pipeline serving about 335,000 customers across West Central Ohio.
The deal, valued at approximately 1.9 times the 2024 rate base of CenterPoint’s Ohio Local Distribution Company, marks the latest step in the utility’s strategy to streamline its operations and recycle capital into higher-growth areas of its regulated footprint. CenterPoint said proceeds from the sale will help support its $65 billion capital plan and future investments in electric and natural gas infrastructure across its Texas, Indiana and Minnesota markets.
Pending regulatory review, including Hart-Scott-Rodino clearance and approval from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, the transaction is expected to close in late 2026. CenterPoint anticipates receiving $1.42 billion in proceeds at closing, with the remaining $1.20 billion to follow in 2027 under a seller note arrangement.
The sale continues a broader industry trend of utilities divesting non-core regional assets to concentrate on larger, integrated energy systems. CenterPoint said it remains committed to ensuring a smooth transition for customers and employees, with National Fuel Gas assuming operational control upon completion. UI