Adam RollinsNew York State will distribute more than $153 million to advance essential critical water and sewer infrastructure projects in more than two dozen communities. Approved by the state Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors, the awards will enable local governments to improve water reliability by implementing upgrades to remove contaminants from drinking water, enhance reservoir sites and replace water infrastructure.
The following are a selection of the projects receiving the largest awards from the allocation:
A total of six communities in North Country will receive a combined $47.7 million for water infrastructure projects. The village of Brownsville will receive the largest allocation of $19.5 million to install a 500,000-gallon water storage tank and demolish the existing tank. In addition, the village will use the funds to replace around 28,000 linear feet of aged water main and associated appurtenances. All remaining funding will go toward installing variable frequency drives for Well Nos. 1, 2 and 3.
Lake Placid will spend $12.5 million to make improvements to its wastewater treatment plant. The village of Rouses Point will receive $8 million to build a membrane filtration plant capable of processing 1 million gallons per day (mgd). The village will also build a water pump station to pump water to the new water treatment plant.
The state will provide the village of Turin with a $7 million award to replace and install nearly 17,200 feet of water main, extend public water to 20 existing residences and replace water meters. Plans also include demolishing and replacing an elevated water storage tank, making water treatment plant upgrades and developing additional source capacity. The remaining $7 million will be split between the towns of Dannemora and Hounsfield to improve a wastewater treatment plant and build a force main.
In the Western New York region, four communities will receive a total of $26.6 million in awards. The town of Ellicott will use $10 million to install 34,000 feet of water mains, valves, hydrants and service meters to extend its public water service. Cassadaga will spend $9.5 million to develop a groundwater well or install treatment to address methane and iron levels in an existing well.
The village of Akron will receive $6.5 million to improve a water storage tank. All remaining funds will enable the town of Westfield to create a water benefit district, including the installation of nearly 23,000 feet of water mains, a chlorine booster station, hydrants, valves and meters.
As part of the awards, the board approved refinancing of short-term projects to long-term for three projects in the Finger Lakes region. The $16.1 million in financing will allow the villages of Newark, Perry and Waterloo to make improvements to their wastewater and drinking water treatment plants.
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