Latest news with #waterpipeline
TechCrunch
4 days ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
SpaceX is building a water pipeline to Starbase – but access comes with some conditions
The newest piece of infrastructure coming to Starbase, Texas isn't a launch mount or a booster. It's a water pipeline, and who can hook up a tap (and on what terms) will shape the definition of 'company town.' The new line, which will stretch from Brownsville to the newly incorporated City of Starbase, will replace the truck-hauled deliveries SpaceX has used to transport potable water for its employees and on-site residents. Brownsville Public Utilities Board COO Mark Dombroski confirmed the line at a July 16 meeting, saying the board had executed a contract with SpaceX to provide water as an in-city customer. The BPUB approved the SpaceX contract on June 2, Dombroski told TechCrunch over email. He did not explain why SpaceX is being treated as an in-city nonresidential customer, which carries a cheaper rate class than outside-city customers, despite the fact that the company did, indeed, establish its own city. 'Under a non-standard development agreement, SpaceX will extend – at their cost – a line to a metering point within the city limits, then transport the water to Starbase,' he continued. 'They will also pay for and construct the improvements needed for BPUB to deliver water to the meter. This arrangement is intended to supersede the water hauling arrangement after SpaceX starts taking water through the meter. Timing is driven largely by SpaceX's construction schedule.' The potable water deliveries have been constrained by a 60,000 gallons per day cap under the current hauled-water purchase agreement between BPUB and SpaceX, according to a January 2024 letter from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The pipeline would change that, making it easier for SpaceX to build out more amenities and housing for employees. For a handful of non-SpaceX affiliated homes, getting access to that water may come with some terms and conditions. In July, nearly 40 properties along the stretch between Brownsville and Boca Chica were abruptly cut off from the county water service, according to the San Antonio Express-News. Cameron County previously delivered fresh water as a 'courtesy' service to these properties, but the county now says it is Starbase's responsibility to deliver water to these residents. Techcrunch event Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise on August 7. Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise. San Francisco | REGISTER NOW Starbase disagrees: in July, Starbase city administrator Kent Myers reportedly sent a letter to a Cameron County commissioner saying the abrupt water cut-off 'poses safety and public health risks.' Starbase 'has neither the legal authority nor operational capacity to deliver water to these residents,' Myers said. Meanwhile, SpaceX has reportedly distributed an 'unconditional and perpetual agreement' to non-SpaceX affiliated homes that would exchange access to Starbase's water and sewer system for residents' agreement to leave the area for 'any and all launch, testing and other operational activities.' The document also states that 'SpaceX has no obligation to provide residents with access to SpaceX's water and wastewater treatment,' nor does it guarantee the quality or volume of water and blocks residents from seeking 'legal or monetary recourse' against the company. A city – with no utilities The newly incorporated City of Starbase, governed by SpaceX executives, is a separate municipal entity adjacent to and encompassing SpaceX's sprawling South Texas launch site. The city was incorporated in May. Only registered voters within the proposed boundary were allowed to vote on the incorporation. There were 247 lots inside that boundary, and only 10 were not owned by SpaceX, according to an affidavit submitted by SpaceX senior manager of spaceport operations Richard Cardile. Even before the vote was cast, SpaceX had been working behind the scenes to formalize potable water provisions for employees and residents. SpaceX established a state-regulated drinking-water system, replete with a half-a-million-gallon ground storage tank, plus service pumps, a chlorine analyzer, tank mixer, and other hardware, according to TCEQ records. The central water system, which is supplied by the two water haulers, is small compared to a city utility, but sizable for an on-site, industrial operation. It serves 239 residential service connections, or meters, which can include multiple units. Starbase's role is limited by design: 'The City of Starbase does not provide any utility services,' Myers told TechCrunch. 'These services are provided by SpaceX within the City Limits.' In practice, that means the forthcoming Brownsville-Starbase pipeline would feed a private, SpaceX-run water system. Neighbors don't automatically gain a right to a tap; any connection would be at SpaceX's discretion, and on SpaceX's terms. The planned pipeline solves near-term scarcity for SpaceX employees and their families, but doesn't create a public right to water. According to public records, SpaceX has not obtained a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (CCN), a Texas Public Utility Commission authorization that determines who may retail water, so has no obligation to serve third parties. SpaceX did not respond to TechCrunch's questions on whether it will be adding public utilities to its long list of commercial services.
Bloomberg
6 days ago
- General
- Bloomberg
Taps Run Dry in Top Burundi Cities as Flooding Risk Looms
The water-pipeline system in the biggest cities in Burundi has collapsed, with residents resorting to taking buckets to central pickup points and rivers to obtain the basic commodity. A national utility piped supplies into homes three times a week in the largest city of Bujumbura and in the capital, Gitega, until June. But higher demand, a network that hasn't seen upgrades since the 1980s and the start of the dry season last month ground this supply to a halt, leaving people scrambling.
CBC
03-08-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Dawson Creek, B.C., eyes $100M water pipeline as deepening drought threatens drinking supply
Social Sharing The City of Dawson Creek is looking to fast-track an estimated $100-million water pipeline as an unprecedented, years-long drought threatens the city's only source of drinking water. The Kiskatinaw River, which provides water for 15,000 people in northeastern B.C., has dropped to record lows and may soon fall below the city's daily demand. Mayor Darcy Dober says the city is asking the province to help find a new water supply and to exempt a pipeline connection from a full environmental assessment. That would cut a five-year approval process down to two, but even then, Dober says the city can't afford to wait if conditions continue to deteriorate. "This is the number one priority for our community's future," Dober said. "This is about 50 years, 100 years down the road." Dawson Creek and the Kiskatinaw watershed are currently classified under Level 3 drought conditions. Average seven-day streamflows hit their lowest recorded levels at the end of July, and the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship says that despite a slight rise from recent rain, they are "still [at] record lows for this time of year." Conditions aren't any better in Bearhole Lake, a protected area in the eastern foothills of the Rockies that is the headwaters of the Kiskatinaw. Both depend entirely on seasonal rain and snow. "We get two or three days of rain and the next day, there's not even puddles around," said Dober. "The ground is absorbing it quicker than it comes." Province working on emergency plans In a written statement, B.C.'s Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) confirmed it's guiding the city through the exemption review process, but that regulatory applications have yet to be formally filed. Once submitted, the EAO says a 90-day engagement process with governments, First Nations and the public will begin. From there, the city will need to file a detailed project description, which the EAO says it will review before making a recommendation to the environment minister. "The EAO appreciates the urgency of the situation, and is working closely with [the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship] to ensure a timely and transparent review," a spokesperson said. The spokesperson said the EAO is also working with the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness to "prepare for possible emergency response measures should drought conditions persist into the fall." "These efforts aim to support the City's water needs while preserving environmental flows in the Kiskatinaw River." Planning for a drier future Dawson Creek officials say the cumulative toll of the recent drought in the region dates back to the 2021 heat dome. Kevin Henderson is the city's chief administrative officer and has been dealing with water issues throughout most of his nearly 30-year career with the city. While previous councils made smart investments in reservoirs and storage weirs to build capacity in the water system, he says today's conditions are pushing the limits of that infrastructure. "We never expected a four-year drought. We always thought we needed to get through a one-year drought, and so we invested in that direction," Henderson said. "The system has been extremely resilient, but we believe we are at a bit of a tipping point now." Stage 2 water restrictions went into effect July 25, limiting residential lawn watering and industrial water use, including bulk withdrawals for hydraulic fracturing. The city's storage reservoirs hold about 200 days of water. But drawing them down is a last resort, and could lead to tighter restrictions on residents and businesses. "We have to move forward with some plans," said Henderson. "All the studies that have been done over the years certainly indicate that this, what we're seeing, is likely to be more common in the future, and that our environment is becoming more arid." Pipeline project seen as best solution Previous studies have ruled out groundwater aquifers in the area as unsuitable for drinking water. The city sees a pipeline to the Peace River, about 55 kilometres away, as the best long-term solution. It's not a new idea. A 2013 survey found strong support, with 71 per cent of residents backing a connection to either the Peace or Murray River. Council at the time chose a different path, Henderson said, like investing in a new reservoir, maximizing use of the existing water treatment system, and leaving the pipeline as a future option. Potential pipeline routes are still under consideration, but the Peace River is emerging as the most viable and sustainable source, Henderson said. "Because of the changing climate, although the Murray or the Pine [rivers] might be an upgrade from the Kiskatinaw, they still see low flows in the falls due to these prolonged droughts," he said. "So we felt if we're going to do it, we should look at the largest river in the region, which is the Peace, and start to explore that." Early estimates suggest a water pipeline could exceed $100 million, a cost Dober acknowledges is beyond the city's tax base. Dawson Creek will need financial support from senior levels of government, as well as partnerships with industry and First Nations, to make it happen, he said. " We're not going to stop until we get a secure water source for our community, and find a way to do that in the most cost-effective way for our taxpayers." B.C. unveils new drought-tracking system 14 days ago As the driest summer months approach, the B.C. government has unveiled a new system to track and report drought conditions in the province. The program will show how much water a community has stored for use and how well rivers and creeks are flowing.
Irish Times
03-08-2025
- Climate
- Irish Times
Water supply for Greater Dublin Area replenishing after Uisce Éireann completes major pipe repairs
'Critical and complex' repairs on a major water pipeline that supplies about a third of the drinking water across the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) have been successfully completed, Uisce Éireann has said. The water pipeline that connects the Ballymore Eustace Water Treatment Plant and the Saggart Reservoir was shutdown on Friday night and drained to allow for the repair work to take place. Teams from the water utility were deployed to work in shifts to complete the repairs without causing shortages, although some people saw a reduced water flow. The extensive repair work was scheduled this weekend as demand for water is typically lower than usual on bank holidays. READ MORE While reservoirs were filled in advance to reduce the chance of significant disruption, Uisce Éireann had asked householders to avoid unnecessary consumption to maximise the time technicians have to repair the pipeline. The utility said on Sunday morning that five significant leaks have been repaired, while 35 metres of damaged pipeline has been replaced. The work was time critical as the pipeline in question can only manage a shutdown of 28 hours before the treated water storage levels become too low, which would have caused significant disruption to supply. The water has now been turned back on and the network continues to replenish towards normal levels. 'We would like to thank everyone for coming together to conserve water,' said Uisce Éireann spokesman Declan Healy. [ How to save water: The average Irish person uses 133 litres a day Opens in new window ] He commended the public in the area for working to reduce usage over the weekend ad said it 'helped safeguard the water supply to yourselves and vulnerable users while supporting the crews working throughout the weekend to successfully deliver these essential works'. While the work has concluded, Uisce Éireann is continuing to urge the public in Dublin , Kildare and Wicklow to conserve water while the network is refilling. It said crews will be on standby for the remainder of the bank holiday weekend to investigate reports of low pressure and intermittent supply.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Yahoo
Sunken 18th century ship discovered by the stone walls of Dubrovnik
Ivan Bukelic dived at Dubrovnik's old port back in April for work on the city water pipeline only to find a wooden structure buried under the sea bed. Experts have so far established that the ship was deliberately scuttled in late 18th century.
