Governor Hochul Announces $85 Million to Help Communities Modernize Water Infrastructure

Low-Cost Financing and Grants Will Support Critical Drinking Water, Stormwater, and Wastewater Projects Across New York

Funding Will Advance Projects That Protect Public Health, Strengthen Communities, and Reduce Future Risks

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $85 million to help communities undertake critical drinking water, stormwater, and sewer projects while keeping costs affordable for local ratepayers. The Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) Board of Directors approved low-cost financing and grants that empower local governments to improve water systems without passing high costs on to families and businesses. These investments protect public health and the environment, reduce future risks, and support good-paying jobs.

“New York continues to set the national standard because we prioritize water infrastructure as the essential investment it is, not a cost to put off until tomorrow,” Governor Hochul said. “We’re putting historic resources behind the essential work of delivering cleaner water, stronger, more resilient communities, and the infrastructure New Yorkers can count on.”

EFC’s Board approved low-cost financing and previously announced grants through New York’s premier water infrastructure investment programs that help communities avoid overly burdensome rate increases. Board approval is a milestone in the funding process and allows communities to enter into funding agreements with EFC and access funds for their projects. Projects that reach the Board approval stage have completed environmental reviews and satisfied key program requirements.

Funding is provided through:

• The Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds: A mix of State and federal dollars that deliver more than $1 billion in low-cost financing and grants annually to New York communities. The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has significantly bolstered the State Revolving Funds since 2022, driving critical investments to help modernize New York’s water and sewer infrastructure. This additional funding ceases this year.
• The State’s Water Infrastructure Improvement and Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure Grants: Proven vehicles for affordability that have saved ratepayers more than $8.3 billion statewide since 2015. EFC is currently reviewing applications for $425 million in grant funding made available through the first installment of the Governor’s bold $3.75 billion clean water investment plan in the FY 2027 Enacted State Budget.
• The State’s Green Resiliency Grants: Launched by Governor Hochul in 2023 to protect New Yorkers from the impacts of extreme weather, with $121 million awarded to date.

Combining State and federal funding ensures every dollar goes further in modernizing aging infrastructure across the State, protecting public health and the environment. Fully funded State Revolving Funds are necessary for New York to meet the ongoing need for communities to repair, rehabilitate, and modernize aging infrastructure.

Funding was approved for projects in the following regions:

Capital Region

• Town of Queensbury, $5 million federal grant for the installation of approximately 20,590 linear feet drinking water main and associated appurtenances including valving, hydrants, and service meters.

Hudson Valley

• Dutchess County Water and Wastewater Authority, $31 million in State grant and low-cost financing for an interconnection between the Hyde Park and Quaker Hill drinking water systems, including installation of approximately 29,500 feet of water main, hydrants, valves, and appurtenances, construction of a prefabricated booster pump station, new electrical service at the proposed North Park parcel, and replacement of approximately 500 feet water main in the Quaker Hill distribution system.
• Village of Hastings-on-Hudson, $2.5 million State grant for the planning, design, and construction of a detention pond adjacent to Farragut Parkway. By diverting, capturing, and temporarily detaining stormwater, the project will reduce flood risks for residents along NepperhanAvenue and improve water quality in the Saw Mill River.
• Town of Wawayanda, $1.5 million in State grant and low-cost financing for the planning, design, and construction of headworks and blower improvements at the Robinn Meadows Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project will improve water quality in the tributary of the Indigot Creek, a Class C trout stream.

Long Island

• Hampton Bays Fire District, $1 million federal grant for interim remedial measures to address groundwater contamination caused by emerging contaminants including PFOS and PFOA at the fire district site.
• Town of Riverhead, $2.3 million federal grant for the installation of a granular activated carbon treatment system to remove PFAS from Well No. 5-2A.

Mohawk Valley

• Town of Paris, $9.4 million in State grant and low-cost financing for the installation of approximately 1,750 linear feet of new drinking water main with related appurtenances, installation of 10 new water services, and replacement of hydrants throughout the system.

North Country

• Village of Croghan, $9.9 million in State grant and interest-free financing for the replacement of 26,000 linear feet of transmission main, replacement and installation of 11,000 linear feet of water main, replacement of valves and hydrants, and formation of a new water district to incorporate existing outside users and extend water service to 12 new residents.
• City of Ogdensburg, $3 million State grant for the planning, design, and construction of green infrastructure stormwater management practices at the Downtown Mall Parking Area. The project will decrease wet weather flows to the City’s combined sewer system while improving water quality in the Oswegatchie and St. Lawrence Rivers.
• Town of Peru, $9.4 million in State grant and interest-free financing for the installation of a trident filtration system and conversion of the existing filters to granular activated carbon to reduce disinfection byproduct formation in the system.

Southern Tier

• Village of Addison, $1.7 million State grant for the installation of approximately 3,400 linear feet of drinking water main, looping dead ends throughout the system, construction of creek and jack-and-bore levee crossings, construction of a new 388,000-gallon water storage tank, hydrant replacements, electrical and control improvements, and incidental work and appurtenances.

Western New York

• Village of Belmont, $8.5 million in State grant and low-cost financing for improvements to well source Nos. 3 and 4, replacement of the water treatment plant filtration system from packaged to cartridge filtration, and replacement of approximately 9,950 linear feet of water mains, hydrants, and appurtenances.