News Digest - April 9, 2020

Researchers at the University of Arizona say that municipal wastewater streams could be sampled and analyzed in order to track the spread of COVID-19. Sample testing in Tuscon showed that SARS-COV-2 could be found in untreated sewage, but was not visible in treated effluent or solids.

New safedrinking water limits for PFOA & PFOS have taken effect in New Jersey. The limits are 14 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and 13 ppt for PFOS, and were drafted in 2016 and 2017 by scientists working for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Implementation was proposed in April of 2019, starting a one-year comment period which closed last month.

Texas+Water spoke with UTRWD's Executive Director Larry Patterson about the next reservoir to be built in North Texas, Lake Ralph Hall.

Despite many municipal governments anticipating new budgetary challenges in the near future, the City of Port Arthur will issue $60 million worth of municipal bonds in order to finance upgrades to their main wastewater treatment plant.

The National Law Review offered a breakdown of options that apply under Force Majeure clauses in Texas Law.

The TWDB held an executive Board meeting today (April 9).

NTMWD Director Tom Kula used a guest column in the Allen American to assuage concerns about COVID-19 and Water Safety.

As of April 8, Texas had reported 9,353 cases and 177 deaths, with 1,091 more cases on Wednesday the 8th, an increase of about 13% over the previous day. Roughly half of our 254 counties have reported at least one case.

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