Editor's Note: Each week, Water & Wastes Digest will post an aggregate of business news briefs and networking news items to keep you informed on facility openings, business mergers and purchases, changes in personnel and award notifications, among others in the water and wastewater treatment industries. If you have business news briefs you would like included in this weekly round up, please email the press release, photo and a link to the post on your website to [email protected] with the subject line "Business News Round Up." One news item per company per week will be posted.
Federal Budget Supports Great Lakes, Clean Water Funding
Great Lakes restoration and clean water programs received support in the final federal budget, released by the U.S. House and Senate, according to a press release.
The fiscal year 2020 budget increases funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which is the first increase for the program in ten years. It also provides new investments in clean water and drinking water infrastructure programs.
“This budget is good news for the Great Lakes and the 30 million Americans who depend on them for their drinking water, jobs and way of life,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “Federal investments are producing results, but serious threats remain, such as polluted runoff, invasive species and toxic pollution. This budget acknowledges those threats and the work that we still need to do.”
According to the press release, the budget includes:
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$320 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to restore habitat, clean up toxic pollution and fight invasive species
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$1.64 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to help communities fix and upgrade wastewater infrastructure
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$1.13 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to help communities fix and upgrade drinking water infrastructure
Inframark Secures Renewal & Scope Expansion
Inframark, LLC, announced in a press release that the Borough of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania has awarded the company a three-year renewal to continue operating, maintaining and managing its 2 million gallons per day (MGD) wastewater treatment plant (WWTP).
The borough expanded the scope of the partnership to include its 1.2 MGD water treatment plant (WTP). The new contract, which is the fifth renewal Inframark has received from the borough, is effective Feb. 1, 2020. Inframark currently serves 12 clients in Pennsylvania.
“Water treatment and sewage treatment are the two most important services that Ebensburg Borough provides,” said Borough Manager Daniel Penatzer. “Inframark has operated our sewage treatment plant in such a professional manner since 2004 that it made sense to also entrust them with the operation of our water treatment plant.”
WWEMA Announces Award Winners and New Board for 2020
Water and Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association (WWEMA) named George Vorsheim, COMMS Contractor, Environment One Corporation as the recipient of the 2019 James C. Morriss Member Achievement Award at WWEMA’s 111th Annual Meeting on Nov. 7.
Lauryn Polito won the WWEMA/WWD Scholarship Award of $1,000. Polito is attending Mississippi State University and pursuing a degree in Environmental Science in Agricultural Systems with a minor in International Agriculture and a track to a Master’s in Business degree. Polito has a parent employed by WWEMA-member Schreiber LLC.
WWEMA members also elected new officers and directors during its 111th Annual Meeting, according to the press release.
ABB Celebrates 20-year Milestone in DCS Leadership
A market analysis report by the ARC Advisory Group confirmed that ABB increased its share of the Distributed Control System (DCS) market to 20%, retaining its leadership position for the 20th year running.
The DCS market saw its main growth in oil and gas, chemicals and refining, where ABB also has a strong footprint, according to a press release.
“I want to thank our long-standing customers for their cooperation and loyalty over decades,” said President of ABB Industrial Automation Dr. Peter Terwiesch. “Partnership and collaboration with our customers have shaped ABB’s automation offering and domain expertise into what it is today. I am also pleased that new customers, in traditional and new industries, are finding value in ABB’s DCS solutions.”