The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) has approved more than $53 million to help nine municipalities finance their drinking water and wastewater projects, Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a Sept. 3 statement.
The grants, interest-free financings and low-cost financings approved by the EFC Board of Directors “help provide innovative solutions for critical infrastructure projects across the state that protect or improve water quality,” the statement said.
More than $20 million will be allocated to plan, design and construct a regional wastewater treatment plant for the villages of Watkins Glen and Montour Falls in Schuyler County.
The board’s approval includes financing through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (“DWSRF”) and grants pursuant to the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA).
The project financings approved at the September 2 meeting include:
Drinking Water Projects:
- Village of Cattaraugus in Cattaraugus County – $848,477 in long-term, interest-free financing to upgrade spring water sources, replace the water transmission main from the spring sources to the water distribution system, treatment system upgrades and water meter replacement.
- Town of Hume in Allegany County – $2,018,700 grant from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and $1,279,600 in short-term, interest-free financing to extend the town system to serve the Hume-Sanford Springs water system.
- Town of Lewisboro in Westchester County – $289,500 WIIA grant to install water treatment software, new equipment and flushing valves and hydrants.
Clean Water Projects:
- Village of Watkins Glen in Schuyler County – $13,806,415 in long-term, interest-free financing for the planning, design and construction of a regional wastewater treatment plant facility to serve the villages of Watkins Glen and Montour Falls.
- Village of Montour Falls in Schuyler County – $5,662,103 in long-term, interest-free financing for the planning, design and construction of the aforementioned regional wastewater treatment plant facility with Watkins Glen.
- Village of Phoenix in Oswego County – $2,734,136 in long-term, interest-free financing for wastewater system improvements.
- Village of Potsdam in St. Lawrence County – $12,078,502 in long-term, interest-free financing for improvements to the wastewater treatment plant and pump station.
- Town of Highlands in Orange County – $1,569,584 in long-term, interest-free financing for wastewater treatment plant repairs and improvements.
- Village of Westhampton Beach in Suffolk County – $1,784,500 WIIA grant, $3,025,378 in short-term, interest-free financing and $8,025,377 in short-term, market rate financing to construct a new sewer collection system and upgrade the county sewer district sewage treatment plant.
In addition, the board approved a $255 million bond that will refinance 64 existing wastewater and drinking water projects at a lower interest rate, saving approximately $24 million for ratepayers across the state, the statement said.
