New York Construction Report staff writer
New York state has approved $434 million in low-cost financing and state and federal grants for water and sewer infrastructure projects across the state, supporting upgrades to aging systems and helping communities limit costs for local ratepayers.
The Environmental Facilities Corp. board of directors approved funding for projects ranging from sewer replacements and wastewater treatment plant upgrades to drinking water improvements, new water mains and stormwater infrastructure.
The funding is intended to protect public health and the environment while supporting construction activity and reducing the financial burden of infrastructure upgrades on municipalities and residents.
“Affordability means investing before problems become crises,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “That’s why we’re making historic investments to help communities modernize their water infrastructure, protect public health and keep costs low for families across New York.”
The board approval allows communities to enter into funding agreements with the Environmental Facilities Corp. and access the funds. Projects reaching this stage have completed environmental reviews and met other program requirements.
New York City received the largest share, with $361 million in low-cost financing for 11 drinking water and sewer projects. The funding brings total EFC financial assistance for those projects to $1 billion.
Projects receiving funding include:
Capital Region
- Village of Corinth: $1.6 million state grant to replace about 5,217 linear feet of sanitary sewer, 5,542 linear feet of storm sewer and 22 manholes along Palmer and Gobel avenues. The work will reduce groundwater and stormwater entering the system through aging clay pipes and improve wastewater treatment operations.
Finger Lakes
- City of Canandaigua: $4.8 million in low-cost financing for headworks improvements at the water resource recovery facility to address wet-weather overflow events and protect water quality in the Canandaigua Outlet.
Hudson Valley
- Town of Amenia: $3.9 million in state grant funding and low-cost financing for upgrades to the drinking water treatment plant, groundwater source, and storage and distribution systems.
- Village of Pawling: $2.8 million in state and federal grants for five wells in the Lower Baxter Wellfield, a treatment facility and replacement of 2,000 linear feet of water main.
Town of Warwick:
- $16 million in state grant funding and interest-free financing for planning, design and construction of upgrades to the Wickham Sewer District No. 1 Wastewater Treatment Plant, including replacement of components in poor or non-operational condition.
New York City received $361 million in low-cost financing for 11 drinking water and sewer projects, including:
- Excavation and construction of Shafts 17B-1 and 18B-1, part of City Tunnel No. 3, Stage 2 in Queens.
- Construction of a second water conveyance tunnel from Kensico Reservoir to the Catskill/Delaware Ultraviolet Disinfection Facility in Eastview.
- Improvements to the Hillview Reservoir, including covering the 900-million-gallon reservoir.
- Design and construction of primary treatment improvements at the Wards Island Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility.
- New backup power equipment at the Jamaica Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility.
- Improvements to sludge thickening at the Oakwood Beach Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility.
- Improvements to the Borden Avenue Pump Station.
- Construction of the 235th Street Pump Station to reduce combined sewer overflows.
- Rehabilitation of the 108th Street Pump Station.
- Replacement of main sewage pumps at the Coney Island Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility.
- Headworks improvements at the Port Richmond Water Resource Recovery Facility, including replacement of equipment that is about 50 years old.
Long Island
- Town of Riverhead: $17.6 million in interest-free financing for construction of sludge facilities at the water resource recovery facility and waste facility.
- Suffolk County Water Authority: $2.8 million in state grants to construct granular activated carbon absorption vessels to remove PFAS from several wells.
North Country
- Town of Lorraine: $4.4 million in federal grant funding and low-cost financing to connect to the Village of Adams water system and install about 14,000 linear feet of water main for the new Water District No. 1.
- Town of North Elba: $5.4 million in low-cost financing for sewer collection system upgrades to reduce groundwater and stormwater entering the system and protect water quality in the Chubb River.
Southern Tier
- Town of Bainbridge: $4 million in state grant funding and interest-free financing for sewer improvements to improve resilience during wet-weather events and protect water quality in the Susquehanna River.
- Town of Bath: $1.2 million state grant for design and construction of the Lake Salubria sewer extension, which will eventually take 127 failing septic systems out of service.
- Village of Painted Post: $8.2 million in state grant funding and low-cost financing for improvements at Well No. 4 to improve water quality and quantity.
Western New York
- City of North Tonawanda: $1.5 million state grant for planning, design and construction of green infrastructure stormwater management measures and separate storm sewers along Oliver Street.
The funding comes through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, the state’s Water Infrastructure Improvement and Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure Grant programs and the Green Resiliency Grants program.
The state said the revolving funds provide more than $1 billion annually in low-cost financing and grants to New York communities, while the water infrastructure grant programs have saved ratepayers more than $8.3 billion since 2015.
Environmental Facilities Corp. President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman said the funding will help municipalities modernize infrastructure while limiting the impact on household water and sewer bills.
“Every grant and low-cost loan help local governments safeguard public health and protect the environment while reducing the impact on household water and sewer bills,” Coleman said.
