U.S. Water and Wastewater Infrastructure News & Events Briefing — September 25, 2026
Friday, September 25, 2026
Today's briefing brings you 10 stories across drinking water, reuse & desalination and wastewater & collection from the utilities, authorities and state agencies that run American water. Leading today: Where Things Stand on Water Infrastructure Legislation in Congress - National League of Cities.
drinking-water
The piece is about federal water infrastructure legislation in Congress and what that means for funding and revolving fund programs that utilities rely on. It matters for drinking water and wastewater systems that use federal aid to pay for projects and compliance work, but the excerpt does not say which bill is moving or what specific changes are being proposed.
Funding & revolving funds
South Dakota is allocating state funding for water projects, which means utilities and local systems will have money available for construction, repairs, or upgrades. The excerpt does not say which systems are getting the money or what specific work will be done.
Funding & revolving funds
Charleston Water System is asking for public input on a plan to replace 941 lead service lines. The piece matters to other drinking-water utilities with lead line inventories and replacement obligations because it points to how one system is handling planning and public process for a required replacement program. The excerpt does not say how the work will be financed, when it will begin, or whether any regulatory deadline is driving the plan.
Lead service lines
EPA issued a boil-water order for Jackson after bacteria was found in a well. For systems facing the same compliance issue, the story points to operational treatment and public notice obligations when source water testing turns up contamination.
Enforcement & consent decrees
The story is about state water and wastewater funding awards through DANR, so it matters to utilities that may receive loans or grants for capital work. The excerpt does not say which systems were funded or what projects each award will support.
Funding & revolving funds
Johnson City received funding to replace lead service lines in its drinking water system. The story matters to systems facing lead inventory and replacement deadlines because it points to outside money being used for a compliance project, but it does not say how many lines will be replaced or give the project schedule.
Lead service lines
Seal Beach plans to borrow money for a water project, which signals a capital funding decision for a local drinking-water system. The excerpt does not say what the project will build or replace, or whether the borrowing is tied to any specific compliance deadline or rate action.
Funding & revolving funds
reuse
John Byrum’s departure is a governance and operations change for the Nueces River Authority, which sits inside a Texas reuse and desalination effort tied to Corpus Christi. The excerpt does not say whether the resignation changes any project schedule, financing, or permitting step.
Reuse & desalination
The piece is about a regulatory guidebook for water reuse. For utilities and agencies planning reuse projects, the practical question is how the guidebook frames permits, standards, and compliance steps under existing state and local rules.
Funding & revolving funds
wastewater
Saratoga is asking the state for additional money for a sewer project. The piece concerns wastewater infrastructure financing and the local utility work it would support.
Funding & revolving funds