Water Infrastructure

High Point, Seattle

Water-Smart Green Infrastructure: The Private Sector Steps Up

A new Urban Land Institute Report details the increasing implementation of citywide green infrastructure networks, including investments on both public and privately owned sites.

May 4, 2017 - Katharine Burgess

Hoover Dam

10 Water Policy and Infrastructure Realities

In celebration of Water Week in the United States, as well as World Water Day, as celebrated by the United Nations, Brookings has complied a list of ten facts about water policy and infrastructure.

March 22, 2017 - Brookings Institution

drinking fountain

$300 Million for a Tunnel to Deliver Water to New York City

After navigating some confusion about construction timelines last year, Mayor Bill de Blasio took steps this week to ensure New York City's water security.

January 25, 2017 - Politico New York

Flint

$170 Million for Flint Water Pipes a Step Closer to Congressional Funding

An amendment to the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that would provide $170 million to replace contaminated water pipes is headed to the 11th hour of the Congressional session.

September 30, 2016 - Detroit Free Press

Lake Powell

Study: Time to Prepare for the Worst for Lake Powell's Water

The reservoir on the Colorado located above the Grand Canyon is dropping fast. A new study proposes a contingency plan to reduce the risk of catastrophe.

September 7, 2016 - Arizona Daily Star

Bay Delta

'Biological Assessment' Released for Big California Tunnels Project

The plans for one of California's most expensive, and controversial, projects are moving forward as the clock ticks on the Obama Administration's time in power.

August 4, 2016 - The Sacramento Bee

Portland Washington Park Resevoir

Portland's Plan to Move its Open Air Reservoirs Underground

Though the plan to move water storage capacity for the Washington Park reservoirs underground is getting more expensive, the project must be completed to comply with federal regulations.

May 26, 2016 - The Oregonian

Houston's Historic Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern Opens to the Public

Houston's Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern, commissioned in 1926 and decommissioned in 2007, is now the city's hottest attraction.

May 17, 2016 - Houston Chronicle

Chicago's 'Current' Initiative: A Public-Private Partnership to Solve Water Challenges

Chicago has set lofty goals to become a leader in the next-generation technology and infrastructure of the global future.

March 31, 2016 - World Business Chicago

A Tale of Two Cities: San Jose and Flint

The fixed costs of infrastructure projects leave cities like Flint struggling to pay their bills with fewer people pooling their resources.

March 3, 2016 - The Atlantic

How the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Failed the People of Flint

While blame squarely lays with Michigan state officials, agencies, and possibly Gov. Rick Snyder himself, the EPA also played a role by both detecting the cause of the problem but not acting on the reports of improper treatment of river water.

January 31, 2016 - Huffington Post

First Step to Restoring Drinking Water for Flint—Coat the Existing Pipes

Gov. Rick Snyder (R-Mich.) announced on Wednesday that the state is working to ensuring safe tap water for Flint residents. While there is no schedule to replace the corroded lead pipes, they are being treated to prevent further lead leaching.

January 30, 2016 - Detroit Free Press

Excessive Lead in Drinking Water Spread to Ohio

Learning from the mishaps shown by state regulatory agencies in Michigan, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency wasted no time in beginning a criminal investigation resulting from reports of concentrations of high lead levels in some Ohio homes.

January 27, 2016 - WFMJ-TV

California's Deferred Road and Bridge Maintenance Balloons to $77 Billion

In his 2015 state of the state address, Gov. Jerry Brown announced his intention to tackle the Golden State's formidable $59 billion road and bridge deficit. A year later, that staggering figure jumped 30 percent to $77 billion.

January 24, 2016 - San Francisco Chronicle

Michigan Governor Finds Himself at Center of Flint Water Crisis

A case is made that Gov. Rick Snyder's handling of the lead-tainted water in Flint, Michigan is analogous to former President George W. Bush's bungling of the crisis resulting after Hurricane Katrina touched-down on the Gulf coast in August 2005.

January 14, 2016 - MSNBC

State of Emergency Declared in Flint Water Crisis

A crisis that stretches back for several months escalated this week, bringing this news of the very bad variety to national attention.

December 16, 2015 - The Washington Post

Water Main

Audit: Dallas Falling Behind as Water Mains Fail

The average water main in Dallas is 42 years old, and the costs of updating the city's water mains are estimated at $55 million a year. The problem: Dallas doesn’t even know where to start.

December 11, 2015 - The Dallas Morning News

Mexico City from the air

A Growing Mexico City Faces Infrastructural Hurdles

As Mexico City continues to add population, issues of sprawl, inequality, and water infrastructure remain challenges in the growing megalopolis.

November 5, 2015 - Inverse

Sacramento - San Joaquin River Delta

California's Bay Delta Explained

As California's drought drags on, the Delta—which provides water to much of the state—has come to symbolize the tension among water users with competing interests. But the strained resource has also prompted ambitious initiatives for sustainability.

October 23, 2015 - VerdeXchange News

Leaky Pipes will Cost Los Angeles at least $1.3 Billion to Fix

The Los Angeles Times offers a broadly ranging, interactive feature on the decrepit state of Los Angeles' water infrastructure.

February 19, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.