Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced that the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors has approved $94 million in grants, interest-free loans, and low-cost loans to support vital drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects across New York State. The FY 2022 Enacted Budget adds a $500 million appropriation to support clean water, raising the State's total investment to $4 billion and continuing to fulfill the State's $5 billion clean water commitment.
"Clean water is essential to not only the public health but also present and future prosperity," Governor Cuomo said. "The State of New York will continue to commit our efforts and resources to these water treatment projects for the long-term benefits of our families, communities and future generations."
Environmental Facilities Corporation President and CEO Joseph Rabito said, "Helping our partners make substantial investments to improve water infrastructure in communities statewide is core to the health and well-being of those we serve. The grants and low-cost financing for wastewater treatment and public water systems approved today will further the State's commitment to projects that improve water quality today and far into the future."
Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner and EFC Board Chair Basil Seggos said, "These critical funds sustain the efforts of communities across New York State that are improving water quality for drinking and recreation by investing in clean water infrastructure. Funding announced today provides the resources communities need to replace and upgrade wastewater treatment systems. New York is committed to improving water quality statewide, the State's sustained and significant investments are essential to making that possible."
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said, "Communities across the State have assessed their drinking water infrastructure and source water protection needs and now have access to low-to-no interest rate financing to see these vital projects through to completion. From treating newly-regulated emerging contaminants that threaten drinking water quality, to ensuring the proper wastewater removal, these fiscal commitments will benefit the health and well-being of all New Yorkers."
The Board's approval includes financing through the Clean and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds and grants that are part of the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act and Emerging Contaminants grant programs. To learn more, visit EFC's website here.
The projects approved at the May 13 meeting include:
Clean Water
- Village of Castleton-on-Hudson in Rensselaer County - $5,936,453 in short-term market-rate financing for wastewater treatment plant upgrades, including the replacement of the existing belt filter press and mechanical bar screen with a washer/compactor.
- Village of Tupper Lake in Franklin County - $7,816,183 in short-term interest-free financing wastewater treatment plant upgrades, including replacing raw wastewater pumps, a new boiler system and installation of a data acquisition system (SCADA).
- City of Ogdensburg in St. Lawrence County - $18,075,738 in short-term low interest financing for wastewater treatment plant upgrades and pump station improvements.
- Village of Suffern in Rockland County - $6,750,000 in short-term low interest financing, and $2,250,000 in Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA) grant funding for wastewater treatment plant upgrades, and storm and flood resiliency measures including the construction of a flood wall.
- Village of Waverly in Tioga County - $11,650,922 in long-term interest-free financing for planning, design, and construction of upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant.
Drinking Water:
- Town of Campbell in Steuben County - $1,820,851 in short-term interest-free financing and $2,731,277 in WIIA grant funding for the development of a new backup water source and extension of the existing public water system to include 122 parcels currently served by impaired residential wells, and for the development of a new public water supply well.
- Livingston County Water and Sewer Authority in Livingston County - $4,000,000 in short-term low interest financing and $3,000,000 in 2019 WIIA funding for water treatment plant upgrades including new storage tank mixing and removal systems, relocation of chlorine injection and flushing points, installation of new water mains, interconnection and consolidation of the American Rock Salt system, replacement of a water storage tank and new meters to replace aged failing meters.
- Town of Wallkill in Orange County - $911,351 in long-term interest-free financing to provide redundancy and emergency preparedness for the town of Wallkill, city of Middletown and village of Goshen.
- Garden City Park Water District in Nassau County - $3,900,000 in an Emerging Contaminants grant for the design and construction of a new treatment process at the existing water treatment facility to remove PFOA, PFOS and residual Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) byproducts.
- Manhasset-Lakeville Water District in Nassau County -$6,509,100 in 2019 Emerging Contaminants grant funding for the design and construction of a new treatment process at the existing water treatment facility, including the construction of a new AOP treatment system, a new granular activated carbon treatment system to remove PFOA, PFOS and residual AOP byproducts and a new ion exchange system to remove nitrate.
- Village of New Paltz in Ulster County - $3,000,000 in WIIA grant funding for the replacement of aged cast iron water mains and the replacement of fire hydrants, valves, and service connections to the project area.
- City of Rochester in Monroe County - $660,000 in WIIA grant funding for the replacement of existing lead, lead-lined and galvanized water services in areas throughout the city.
- Roslyn Water District in Nassau County - $4,485,000 in 2019 Emerging Contaminants grant funding for the installation of an AOP treatment system for the removal of PFOA and PFOS and AOP byproducts and for upgrades to the existing water treatment plant.
- Village of South Blooming Grove in Orange County - $660,000 in 2019 WIIA funding for the removal of iron and manganese for an existing well and a new treatment building that includes updated chlorination and iron and manganese filters.
- City of Syracuse in Onondaga County - $2,100,000 in WIIA grant funding for the replacement of the Morningside Reservoir middle tank roof and upgrades to the Morningside Reservoir facility.
- West Hempstead Water District in Nassau County - $3,924,150 in Emerging Contaminants grant funding for the design and construction of a new treatment process at the existing water treatment plant, which will be designed to treat raw water from existing wells.
- Wayne County Water and Sewer Authority in Wayne County - $3,900,000 in Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure Grant funding for the installation of a 2-million-gallon water storage tank to replace an existing tank in the Town of Williamson that is beyond its useful life in addition to the replacement of 80,000 linear feet of new water main to support existing services for six municipalities.
The financings are subject to the Public Authorities Control Board's approval and are scheduled for consideration at PACB's meeting on May 19, 2021.