New York state will use $43 million to go toward helping communities afford water and sewer infrastructure improvement projects, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office announced Thursday.
The Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors approved low-cost financing and state and federal grants aim to help local governments advance crucial upgrades —replacing lead service lines, treating harmful emerging contaminants and modernizing aging systems.
The purpose of the funds is to help local communities avoid costly rate increases.
Funding was approved for projects in the following regions:
Finger Lakes
Town of Parma – $3.4 million in state grant and low-cost financing for the formation of Water Improvement Benefit Area No. 1, including the installation of approximately 30,000 linear feet of watermains, valves, hydrants, and appurtenances
Town of Sheldon – $2.6 million in state and federal grants and low-cost financing for the replacement of approximately 6,500 linear feet of watermains, hydrants, valves, and appurtenances along Route 98, Route 20A, and School Street, and the replacement of a well pump house
Town of Stafford – $318,000 State grant for the formation of Water District No. 14, including installation of approximately 2,500 linear feet of watermains and appurtenances including hydrants, valves, and service meters
Mohawk Valley
Upper Mohawk Valley Regional Water Finance Authority – federal grant, interest-free financing, and a state loan forgiveness grant for a $12.7 million project to replace 1,388 lead service lines in the city of Utica
Town of Vernon – $2.2 million state grant for the construction of a pump house, a 154,000-gallon elevated storage tank, and approximately 33,000 linear feet of watermains and related appurtenances to extend public water to 178 properties for the new Vernon Center Water District
North Country
Village of Castorland – $549,000 state grant for the construction of a 150,000-gallon storage tank, installation of system communications improvements, and installation of emergency backup power supply at the water treatment plant
St. Regis Mohawk Tribe – $9.9 million state grant to replace the wastewater treatment plant
Western New York
Town of Friendship – $8.3 million in state grant and interest-free financing for the installation of standby power facilities for Well Nos. 4 and 5, the development of a new groundwater supply facility, and blending of water supplies.
“This funding means communities don’t have to choose between clean water and affordable rates,” Hochul said in a statement. “Stronger infrastructure, safer water, lower costs — that’s our commitment to New Yorkers.”