Paul StinsonNew York will direct $49 million to infrastructure projects that will enhance water quality and promote economic development statewide. The funding comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and various state water infrastructure funding programs.
“These investments will advance effective infrastructure improvements that bring long-lasting benefits to more New Yorkers,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a press release.
The state’s Environmental Facilities Corporation Board (EFCB) recently approved a suite of grants and financing measures spanning eight projects. This includes a $13.9 million grant to Erie County’s Buffalo Sewer Authority (BSA) to plan, design and upgrade the Bird Island Wastewater Treatment Plant secondary treatment system.
The project will bolster the facility’s capacity to withstand heavy rainfall that can overwhelm the city’s combined sewer/stormwater system. The BSA will restore and expand the existing aeration tank hydraulic capacity to a peak flow of 400 million gallons per day. This will include installing aeration tank isolation equipment, a membrane disk diffuser system and return-activated sludge piping and appurtenances.
Once complete, the project will substantially improve the Niagara River’s water quality. The state has already committed $55 million in grants and low-cost financing to the project, which has an overall cost of $72 million.
The EFCB’s approval allows municipal access to over $37 million in low-cost short-term financing and grants. The funding taps the state’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), Water Infrastructure Improvement (WIIA) and Intermunicipal Grant (IMG) programs.
Big-ticket items include $7.9 million to help the town of Hermon develop the Spring No. 5 water source to increase well capacity and prevent Spring No. 5 from contaminating other nearby springs. The town will also install a redundant transmission main from the springs to the water treatment plant.
Hermon will use the funding to improve the water treatment plant by replacing the facility’s high lift pumps, process piping and valves, repairing the clear well bypass piping, upgrading the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system and improving the chlorine system.
Plans include installing individual water meters and replacing 25,000 linear feet of distribution mains in Water District No. 1. The project has a $9.4 million total cost.
Other EFCB-supported clean water projects include $4.3 million in loans and grants for Allegany County’s town of Hume to decommission the existing wastewater treatment plant and build a pump station and 6-inch force main. The project includes installing two submersible pumps capable of handling up to 160 gallons per minute at the town’s existing pump station.
The force main will cover 19,000 linear feet. The town will also install eight sanitary manholes to create access to sources of inflow and infiltration. The total project cost is $4.3 million.
The EFCB will also direct $4 million to Cattaraugus County’s Franklinville to improve the village’s north and south wellhouses. The public water system currently has an 80% water loss rate. The town will upgrade both wellhouses’ motor pumps, flow meters and data logging capabilities. Additional plans include replacing approximately 30,000 linear feet of aging, undersized watermains. The total project cost is $6 million.
The town of Lyons in Wayne County will receive $3.7 million to improve its wastewater treatment plant. Facility improvements include replacing the grit removal system equipment, installing an influent mechanical bar screen with washer compacter and rehabilitating two final clarifiers and associated equipment. The town will also install an ultraviolet effluent disinfection system and upgrade the SCADA. The total project cost is $4.2 million.
Westchester County’s Mount Kisco will receive $2.4 million to rehabilitate the Saw Mill Pump Station (SMRPS) and replace the Branch Brook Trunk Sewer. The town will replace outdated SMRPS components and build an additional pump for redundancy. Plans also include replacing the Branch Brook Trunk Sewer with 8,200 linear feet of 24-inch cement-lined ductile iron pipe. The total project cost is $9.5 million. The EFCB’s action is one of many recent efforts to support the state’s water infrastructure. On Feb. 15, Gov. Hochul awarded $166 million in grants to support 187 water quality projects. She allocated an additional $150 million to support a $705 million New York City water supply tunnel project in late 2023.
Strategic Partnerships, Inc. can provide information on contract opportunities, plus existing and future government funding. For more information, contact research@spartnerships.com.
