Keaton PetersNew York state is upgrading aging water systems as the state looks to protect drinking water supplies. With a $435 million investment, New York’s water infrastructure initiative is taking shape across all regions of the state..
The grants, awarded by the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC), represent the latest round of water infrastructure funding that has totaled $5.5 billion since 2017. The funding, awarded through the Water Infrastructure Improvement and Intermunicipal Grant programs, has been modified to increase support for small, rural and disadvantaged communities, boosting grant coverage from 25% to 50% of eligible project costs for qualifying municipalities.
Across the nation, communities are struggling to maintain aging water infrastructure and ensure water remains free of contamination. While meeting the urgent funding need, New York’s investment looks to also create jobs and strengthen local economies. By providing funding for many rural projects, the state is also filling a crucial gap for areas where local tax revenue lags behind infrastructure needs.
The funding was split among ten regions of New York state:
- Long Island: $97.8 million for 24 projects.
- North Country: $68.7 million for 18 projects.
- Finger Lakes: $59.5 million for 15 projects.
- Mohawk Valley: $59.2 million for 9 projects.
- Western New York: $50.1 million for 14 projects.
- Mid-Hudson: $32.4 million for 7 projects.
- Capital Region: $22.4 million for 5 projects.
- Southern Tier: $17.2 million for 6 projects.
- New York City: $11.2 million for 1 project.
- Central New York: $6.7 million for 3 projects.
Long Island is a major recipient of funding, with multiple projects targeting the removal of emerging contaminants from drinking water. The Suffolk County Water Authority alone received funding for 17 different well field improvement projects. The Village of Hempstead secured the region’s largest single grant at $37.2 million for water treatment improvements to address Dioxane and PFAS contamination, commonly known as forever chemicals because they can stay in the environment for thousands of years.
In the North Country region, several smaller communities are receiving funding; the Town of Peru was awarded $11 million for wastewater treatment plant upgrades, while the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe received $9.8 million for their wastewater treatment plant improvement project. The City of Plattsburgh will get $5 million for Phase 4 of its drinking water system upgrades.
In Western New York, the Town of Mina received $13 million to create a new sewer and sanitation district, while several villages including Belmont, Cassadaga and Cattaraugus each secured $5 million for water system improvements. The Town of Ellicott was awarded grants for both water service extension ($5 million) and sewer service extension ($3.2 million) in the Fluvanna area.
In the Mohawk Valley region, the Village of Sylvan Beach secured the region’s largest grant at $19.6 million for wastewater treatment plant upgrades. The Village of Richfield Springs will receive $9.1 million for plant improvements and sewer rehabilitation, while the Village of Boonville was awarded $7 million for treatment plant and interceptor improvements.
Communities in the Hudson Valley are also getting money for water infrastructure. The Dutchess County Water and Wastewater Authority received $15.3 million to interconnect two existing water systems while also addressing PFAS contamination. The Town of Pound Ridge secured $7.6 million for drinking water improvements in Scotts Corners.
In Southern New York, the largest grant went to the Village of Endicott, which received $5.8 million for a wastewater treatment plant nutrient reduction project. The only grant awarded to New York City went to the Municipal Water Finance Authority, which was awarded $11.2 million for Bronx River combined sewer overflow control.
Photo by Orhan Akbaba
