Bloomington, IN
Municipality in Indiana
United States
Bloomington, IN encourages firefighters to live in the city with its housing incentives pilot
Firefighters qualify for $750 per month in rental assistance from their first day of work under the program. The program also provides up to $18,000 in down payment assistance for home purchases within city limits after a probationary period. Reductions in housing costs support recruitment, reduce travel times to fire stations, and increase community connections. City officials are funding the program with COVID-19 recovery funds and revenue from a new income tax.
Bloomington, IN
United States
Bloomington, IN improves water pump technology
CBU found a way to improve old water lifts after prototyping a technical solution. With installation of the computer boards, CBU has more control over the lifts and can essentially code which pumps they want pumping to which tank. The computer boards automate the two lift stations without relying on solely the air compressor's old parts. In establishing safer and more effective technology, this innovation has significantly decreased the chance that the older lifts fail to fulfil their functions.
Bloomington, IN
United States
Bloomington, IN designs water main break splash solution
A T&D laborer, Jerry Waldridge, engineered an implement using everyday materials to effectively and simply minimize unwanted splashing and prevent erosion in the workspaces. The invention consists of a broomstick with a piece of tire at the end of it. The device allows one worker to stay on the surface and hold the broomstick while the attached tire segment follows the curve of the pipe and contains the splash, allowing the workers in the trench to fix the break with minimal splash.
Bloomington, IN
United States
Bloomington, IN launches watercooler conversation series
Every Wednesday from June-August, CBU employees are invited to attend a coworker-led, short presentation and Q&A (in-person when safe to do so, or virtually when needed) on water, wastewater, stormwater, and other related topics. “(Presenters) don’t normally get asked what they do on a daily basis. Being asked to present reinforces that each position at CBU is important to our whole operation.” All in all, employees leave the Watercooler Conversation Summer Series feeling closer to one another.
Bloomington, IN
United States
Bloomington, IN uses visual data analysis to understand water main breaks
Jill Minor, CBU’s Data Analyst, made visual representations of the data to help the team generate insights and create predictive modeling. With better modeling, the team hoped that CBU could be more strategic about investment in pipe replacement and equipment. Inspired by the incorporation of data visualization in this most recent water main break study, CBU has started to streamline reporting procedures and leak notifications for most water issues using open-source G-suite tools.
Bloomington, IN
United States
Bloomington, IN wastewater treatment plans use a noodle to make collecting samples easier
Workers attached a pool noodle to the water sampler, both extending the reach of the worker using the sampler while also creating a form of buoyancy should the worker drop the sampler in the tank. Innovations such as this one, using common items one can buy from the Dollar Store may seem simple and small, but their impact is large. Dropping a sampler is still an annoyance, but the recovery is much faster and the instrument remains intact and no longer needs replacement.
Bloomington, IN
United States
Bloomington, IN establishes residential stormwater grants program
One way to mitigate pooling and the amount of polluted stormwater entering our streams is to build “green” stormwater infrastructure. This includes projects such as rain gardens, dry creek beds, and vegetated swales. These kinds of projects are a focus for the Utilities Department, however, publicly owned lands do not account for the majority of our landmass. So, in 2019, CBU began a program to offer grants to residents who wanted to install “green” stormwater infrastructure.
Bloomington, IN
United States
Verified Projects
Bloomington, IN improves water pump technology
CBU found a way to improve old water lifts after prototyping a technical solution. With installation of the computer boards, CBU has more control over the lifts and can essentially code which pumps they want pumping to which tank. The computer boards automate the two lift stations without relying on solely the air compressor's old parts. In establishing safer and more effective technology, this innovation has significantly decreased the chance that the older lifts fail to fulfil their functions.
Bloomington, IN
United States
Bloomington, IN designs water main break splash solution
A T&D laborer, Jerry Waldridge, engineered an implement using everyday materials to effectively and simply minimize unwanted splashing and prevent erosion in the workspaces. The invention consists of a broomstick with a piece of tire at the end of it. The device allows one worker to stay on the surface and hold the broomstick while the attached tire segment follows the curve of the pipe and contains the splash, allowing the workers in the trench to fix the break with minimal splash.
Bloomington, IN
United States
Bloomington, IN launches watercooler conversation series
Every Wednesday from June-August, CBU employees are invited to attend a coworker-led, short presentation and Q&A (in-person when safe to do so, or virtually when needed) on water, wastewater, stormwater, and other related topics. “(Presenters) don’t normally get asked what they do on a daily basis. Being asked to present reinforces that each position at CBU is important to our whole operation.” All in all, employees leave the Watercooler Conversation Summer Series feeling closer to one another.
Bloomington, IN
United States
Bloomington, IN uses visual data analysis to understand water main breaks
Jill Minor, CBU’s Data Analyst, made visual representations of the data to help the team generate insights and create predictive modeling. With better modeling, the team hoped that CBU could be more strategic about investment in pipe replacement and equipment. Inspired by the incorporation of data visualization in this most recent water main break study, CBU has started to streamline reporting procedures and leak notifications for most water issues using open-source G-suite tools.
Bloomington, IN
United States
Bloomington, IN wastewater treatment plans use a noodle to make collecting samples easier
Workers attached a pool noodle to the water sampler, both extending the reach of the worker using the sampler while also creating a form of buoyancy should the worker drop the sampler in the tank. Innovations such as this one, using common items one can buy from the Dollar Store may seem simple and small, but their impact is large. Dropping a sampler is still an annoyance, but the recovery is much faster and the instrument remains intact and no longer needs replacement.
Bloomington, IN
United States
Bloomington, IN establishes residential stormwater grants program
One way to mitigate pooling and the amount of polluted stormwater entering our streams is to build “green” stormwater infrastructure. This includes projects such as rain gardens, dry creek beds, and vegetated swales. These kinds of projects are a focus for the Utilities Department, however, publicly owned lands do not account for the majority of our landmass. So, in 2019, CBU began a program to offer grants to residents who wanted to install “green” stormwater infrastructure.
Bloomington, IN
United States