New York Construction Report staff writer
Ground was broken Wednesday on the long-awaited Rye Lake Water Filtration Plant, a project that will provide advanced water treatment for more than 100,000 Westchester residents.
The plant is the result of a partnership between Westchester County, the Westchester Joint Water Works (WJWW) and local officials, with the county facilitating a land swap that cleared nearly two decades of delays. Yonkers Contracting Company, Inc., a firm with extensive experience in large-scale infrastructure projects, was awarded the contract to build the plant. Construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2025 and be completed by 2029.
“This milestone marks a major step in delivering safe, clean drinking water to our communities,” said WJWW Chair Jaine Elkind Eney. WJWW Manager Paul Kutzy added that the plant will improve water quality, remove potential contaminants, and enhance the resilience of the region’s water infrastructure.
Once complete, the filtration plant will serve as the primary source of treatment for Rye Lake water, supplementing existing measures to meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and New York State Department of Health safe drinking water standards. The plant will reduce turbidity, remove waterborne pathogens, and eliminate organic matter that contributes to disinfection byproducts, including haloacetic acids (HAA5).
The facility will be located adjacent to Westchester County Airport, with a minimum 100-foot forest buffer and architectural design elements to mitigate visual impact. The site plan includes screening features, landscape plantings, bioswales, and preservation of a historic stone wall along Purchase Street. Sound-dampening measures will also be incorporated to minimize noise.
“Clean water is a public good, and this project ensures safe, clean water for generations to come,” said county officials. The plant is designed to blend environmentally and visually with its surroundings while providing critical infrastructure to protect public health.
Yonkers Contracting has entered into a Project Labor Agreement with the local building trades, ensuring the filtration plant will be built with union labor, officials said.
