Mount Vernon’s City Council has approved $6 million in New York State-funded contracts to begin major wastewater upgrades.
The contracts are the first approved under the state’s $150 million investment to address the city's aging water and wastewater infrastructure issues. This key approval enables the start of priority sewer repairs and long-term planning for future wastewater projects, and connects city officials to technical, managerial and financial consultants to help guide this work.
"Today's announcement is about action for Mount Vernon. It's about making good on the promises we made in April when we announced the historic $150 million investment to start rebuilding the City's crumbling water and sewer systems," Governor Kathy Hochul said. "I envisioned moments like this — seeing the tangible results for the city and taking a big step toward ensuring that Mount Vernon residents, businesses and visitors have access to the reliable water and sewer infrastructure systems that they deserve."
The contracts are funded by State grants through the NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation in partnership with the Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health. The contracts provide for the following activities:
- $5 million to plan, design, and construct priority wastewater projects identified in the city's Illicit Discharge Action Plan dated June 2022. The plan identifies all the discharges to the storm sewer system that are not specifically stormwater, such as leaking sanitary sewers.
- $500,000 for sewer cleaning services and closed-circuit TV inspection of sewer lines to support capital improvement project planning. Televising the lines will bring visibility to what's happening underground by identifying blockages and leaks or potential failures in the system.
- $500,000 for professional consultant services to provide training, technical, managerial, and financial assessments, funding application assistance, and on-site technical assistance.
Governor Hochul, Mayor Patterson-Howard and Westchester County Executive George Latimer in April announced the $150 million in water and sewer infrastructure investment in Mount Vernon. An additional $3 million in federal funding was allocated to assist Mount Vernon residents impacted by the sewer and water infrastructure crisis in the city through the Governor's Office of Storm Recovery's Healthy Homes pilot program announced in July. The initiative, administered by GOSR and targeted to the most frequently impacted and high-risk properties, will mitigate environmental hazards and make resiliency upgrades to private property.
