New York Construction Report staff writer
More than $49 million in direct financial assistance has been announced for water infrastructure improvement projects across New York State, including about $37 million in low-cost short-term financing and grants to modernize critical drinking water and sewer systems.
Funding includes over $20 million from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). A $13 million grant for the Buffalo Sewer Authority will modernize the 1970s-era secondary treatment system at the Bird Island Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project will increase the facility’s capacity to handle intense rain events that can overwhelm Buffalo’s combined sewer/stormwater system, and substantially improve water quality in the Niagara River.
Financing was also approved for approved for projects in the Town of Herman in St. Lawrence County and the Town of Lyons in Wayne County.
Clean Water Projects:
- Buffalo Sewer Authority, Erie County (Western NY) – $13.9 million grant for the planning, design, and construction of secondary treatment upgrades at the Bird Island Wastewater Treatment Plant.
- Town of Caneadea, Allegany County (Western NY) – $430,000 WIIA grant for the planning, design, and construction of a disinfection system at the town’s wastewater treatment plant.
- Town of Hume, Allegany County (Western NY) – $2.4 million short-term interest-free financing, $1 million short-term market-rate financing and an $816,000 WIIA grant for the planning, design, and construction of a pump station and force main in the town.
- Town of Lyons, Wayne County (Finger Lakes) – $804,655 short-term interest-free financing and $2.1 million grant from BIL general supplemental funds, and an $804,655 WIIA grant from Environmental Bond Act funds for the planning, design, and construction of improvements to the town’s wastewater treatment plant.
- Village of Mount Kisco, Westchester County (Mid-Hudson) – $2.4 million WIIA grant for the planning, design, and construction of improvements to the Saw Mill Pump Station and replacement of the Branch Brook Trunk Sewer.
Drinking Water Projects:
- Village of Franklinville, Cattaraugus County (Western NY) – $1.2 million short-term market-rate financing and a $2.9 million WIIA grant for improvements to the village’s north and south wellhouses, as well as replacement of approximately 30,000 linear feet of watermains.
- Niagara County Water District, Niagara County (Western NY) – $1.2 million WIIA grant for the replacement of the water treatment plant’s one-million-gallon wash water tank.
The Board approved long-term interest-free financing totaling $11 million for three existing projects:
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- Village of Ilion in Herkimer County (Mohawk Valley), the Village of Medina in Orleans County (Finger Lakes), and the City of Utica in Oneida County (Mohawk Valley). Based on current market conditions, these long-term financings are projected to save ratepayers an estimated $14 million in interest payments over the life of the financings.
