Study to determine Valpo water's future

VALPARAISO | The future of water and, indeed, the future of life in Valparaiso and the rest of the planet is a combination of finding an adequate supply, conserving water to make the supply last and restoring the infrastructure needed to bring the water to homes and businesses.

Water fluoridation debate rages on after 70 years

Fluoride in the water, introduced in the 1940s, continues to be a controversial topic. No one is calling it a Communist plot anymore, but the two sides still can be heated about it.

States squaring off over water 'haves,' 'have-nots'

Water fights used to be a fun thing to do on hot summer days. These days, they are deadly serious and can go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Valpo's disinfection facility passes its first big test

VALPARAISO | The seemingly incessant rain last week provided the first test of Valparaiso's combined sewer overflow disinfection facility.

Scary movie results in sewer replacement project

VALPARAISO | One of the scariest things on TV recently wasn't on cable or satellite. It was in Valparaiso's sewers.

Valpo studies look at Valpo meeting prospect's needs

VALPARAISO | The city's Utilities Board has hired MWH Global, of Chicago, to study whether the pumping stations at Sturdy Road and Horseprairie Avenue are adequate to handle a new industry.

Valpo planning public works campus at sewer plant

VALPARAISO | The city is ready to get started on the last big project from the first strategic plan prepared when Mayor Jon Costas first took office nine years ago.

Valpo to look at buying Lake Michigan water

VALPARAISO | The city's Utilities Board should be ready by July to make a recommendation whether the water supply should continue to come from the ground or from Lake Michigan via another supplier.

Valpo board OKs new culvert design contract

VALPARAISO | It's now up to DLZ to design a culvert replacement under the Rail America tracks behind the Franklin House, but Valparaiso's Utilities Board wanted to know why the original consultant did not do the job.

Valpo stormwater investment paying big dividends

VALPARAISO | It was a first in the 18 years Steve Poulos has worked for the city's wastewater treatment plant, and it might have been a first in the almost 60-year history of the facility.

Board delays Valpo sewage composting study

VALPARAISO | The city's Utilities Board tabled a proposal Tuesday to hire consultants Black & Veatch to do a feasibility study and project design for a facility to compost treated sewage sludge.

Valparaiso could turn sludge savings to earnings

VALPARAISO | Applying the city's annual 4 million gallons of treated sewage on area farm fields has been a good thing for the farmers and the city, but turning the sludge into compost could prove to be an even bigger boon for the city.

Roundabout enables Valpo to replace aging water mains

VALPARAISO | There's nothing like a major roundabout project to help the city replace an aging water line.

Valpo sewer, water rate hikes could be coming

VALPARAISO | With the loss of a major revenue source and an estimated $600,000 in added employee health insurance costs, the city's Utilities Board is expected to seek rate increases for both sewer and water in 2013.

Steve Poulos named utilities director for Valparaiso

VALPARAISO | Steve Poulos has officially been named utilities director for the city, replacing John Hardwick, who retired in September.

Study looks at Valpo water supply options

VALPARAISO | A decision is expected by early 2013 on if the city will need to connect to Indiana American Water to bolster its supply needs and if it's time to treat city water to make it softer.

Delayed start could add cost to Valpo culvert work

VALPARAISO | Delaying the start of the Sager Run culvert replacement project as a favor to Zao Island could end up costing the city more money to repave Horseprairie Avenue at the site of the repair.

Minko named to Valpo utilities board vacancy

VALPARAISO | The president and CEO of a local energy conservation company was named Monday to replace Brad Dolezal on Valparaiso's Utilities Board.

Valpo to replace 91-year-old sewerline

VALPARAISO | Bids were opened at Tuesday's utilities board meeting for replacing 1,300 feet of clay sewer pipe on Wood Street that was installed in 1921.

Hardwick retires as Valpo utilities director

VALPARAISO | The succession plan developed for replacing the top supervisors in the utilities department as they reach retirement age is working so well Utilities Director John Hardwick decided to leave nine months earlier than originally planned.