New York awards $8.1M for drinking water projects
New York State officials have announced the award of $8,135,000 to eight drinking water improvement projects across the state.
“New York continues to provide historic levels of financial support to ensure all New Yorkers have access to clean water for generations to come,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “We will continue upgrading New York’s aging infrastructure and strengthening our water security — improving the quality of life and public health of communities across the state.”
Sources of funding
The funding was administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) through the State’s Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program.
The WQIP grant program funds projects that directly improve water quality or aquatic habitat, or protect a drinking water source. Supported in part by the State's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and Clean Water Infrastructure Improvement Act funding, WQIP projects include municipal wastewater treatment upgrades, non-agricultural nonpoint source abatement and control, land acquisition projects for source water protection, salt storage construction, aquatic connectivity restoration, and marine habitat restoration.
The awardee projects for drinking water infrastructure, pulled from New York’s 2022 Round 18 WQIP Award List, are as follows:
- City of Watervliet Land Acquisition Project: $480,000
The City of Watervliet will acquire a 58-acre parcel of land adjacent to their drinking water source, the Watervliet Reservoir. Acquiring this parcel will protect the reservoir from potential pollution associated with development or certain land use activities. The land will remain as undeveloped forest, acting as a natural riparian buffer for the City's drinking water source.
- Allegany County Soil and Water Conservation District/Town of Angelica Salt Storage Salt Storage Facility: $270,000
Allegany County Soil and Water Conservation District will construct a salt storage facility in the Town of Angelica to cover its currently exposed salt pile. The structure will protect the water quality of groundwater and drinking water wells.
- St. Lawrence River Main Stem - Phase 2 Land Acquisition Program: $2,509,240
Thousand Islands Land Trust will continue to protect the St. Lawrence River Main Stem through the acquisition and permanent protection of over 278 acres in the Towns of Clayton and Orleans. The eight parcels of undeveloped land to be acquired consist of coastal wetlands, grasslands, and natural riparian forest. These natural features will protect the St. Lawrence River, a source of public drinking water.
- Eastern Lake Ontario Shorelines Conservation Initiative: $2,922,460
The Thousand Islands Land Trust will protect over 400 acres and 11,000 feet of shoreline in the Towns of Cape Vincent and Lyme by acquiring four land parcels, which are a mix of coastal wetlands, grasslands, and natural riparian forests. The projects will protect the water quality of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, both public drinking water sources.
- Genesee River Watershed Roadside Stabilization Program: $610,000
The Ontario County Soil and Water Conservation District will implement a roadside stabilization program in the Towns of Canadice and Bristol. The program will slow stormwater flow, reduce roadside erosion, and reduce the amount of nutrients and other contaminants that could enter the City of Rochester drinking water supply and Mill Creek in the Genesee River watershed.
- Village of Florida Land Acquisition: $615,000
The Village of Florida, in collaboration with the Town of Warwick, will acquire over 90 acres of land to further protect their drinking water source, Glenmere Lake. By acquiring this parcel, the Village will protect their sole drinking water source through enhanced land management.
- Village of Walden Salt Storage Barn: $500,000
The Village of Walden will construct a new salt storage facility located further from surface waters than the existing storage location. This structure will protect the Wallkill River and drinking water.
- Town of Howard Salt Storage Facility: $228,300
The Town of Howard will construct a new salt storage facility on Mill Road in Avoca. The structure will protect groundwater and nearby drinking water wells.