Governor Hochul Announces $143 Million Investment in Critical Water Infrastructure Projects Across New York State

 

Approval of Financial Assistance Authorizes Municipal Access to the Capital Needed for Shovel Ready Projects that Reduce Risks to Public Health and the Environment

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $143 million in financial assistance for seven water infrastructure improvement projects, the latest action to upgrade New York's water and sewer systems, reduce water pollution, and safeguard vital drinking water supplies. The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors approved low-cost financing and previously announced grants, authorizing municipal access to the capital needed to get shovels in the ground for critical drinking water and sewer projects in New York City and the Finger Lakes, Mid-Hudson and North Country regions.

"These low-cost financings and grants are the building blocks for municipalities to modernize and protect their critical water infrastructure," Governor Hochul said. "My administration will continue to tackle clean water issues head-on with strategic investments that will benefit New Yorkers for generations to come."

The Board's approvals include financings through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, as well as grants already announced pursuant to the Water Infrastructure Improvement grant program.

Clean Water Project Funding Approved:

1. Village of Penn Yan in Yates County - $167,500 short-term interest-free financing, $132,750 WIIA grant and $132,750 CWSRF grant for disinfection improvements at the wastewater treatment plant.
2. Village of Philadelphia in Jefferson County - $774,320 short-term interest-free financing and $625,680 short-term market-rate financing for disinfection improvements at the wastewater treatment plant.

Drinking Water Project Funding Approved:

1. New York City Municipal Water Finance Authority (two projects)
   1. $100,000,000 short-term market-rate financing to excavate and construct Shafts 17B-1 and 18B-1 in City Tunnel No. 3 in Queens to provide to provide redundancy for the city's water system as well as allowing better flow control and management of the water system.
   2. $22,000,000 short-term market-rate financing to design and construct the Croton Water Filtration Plant and associated facilities.
      
2. Village of Harriman in Orange County (two projects)
   1. $538,551 WIIA grant to install a granular activated carbon treatment system for the removal of emerging contaminants from Well No. MH-1A.
   2. $284,955 WIIA grant to install approximately 600 linear feet of 8-foot ductile iron water main from the existing distribution system located on Harriman Heights Road to Well HH #3.
      
3. Village of Watkins Glen in Schuyler County - $13,500,000 short-term interest-free financing, $3,000,000 DWSRF grant, and $2,000,000 WIIA grant for a new intake screen, new raw water pump station, new pressure filters at the water treatment plant, upgrades to existing filters and underdrains at the water treatment plant, a new approximately 500,000-gallon storage tank, existing storage tank upgrades, replacement of approximately 40,000 linear feet of water main and upgrades to the SCADA system at the water treatment plant.

New York continues to increase its investments in clean water infrastructure. Most recently, in the 2023 State of the State agenda, Governor Hochul committed to invest $500 million in clean water funding in her upcoming budget, bringing New York's total clean water infrastructure investment to $5 billion. To leverage these investments and ensure ongoing coordination with local governments, Community Assistance Teams will provide proactive outreach to small, rural, and disadvantaged communities to help them access financial assistance to address their clean water infrastructure needs.

In addition, with voter approval of the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act in November, there are additional, historic levels of funding to update aging water infrastructure and protect water quality; strengthen communities' ability to withstand severe storms and flooding; reduce air pollution and lower climate-altering emissions; restore habitats; preserve outdoor spaces and local farms; and ensure equity by investing at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of resources in disadvantaged communities.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Croton Water Filtration Plant has been completed and is already in operation. The cost was over three billion dollars from an original estimate of six-hundred million dollars.