Some of state’s new $120M water funding coming to Westchester, Dutchess and Orange

Yonkers and Mount Kisco in Westchester, the Village of Greenwood Lake in Orange County and the Dutchess County Water and Wastewater Authority are among the beneficiaries of $120 million in new New York state funding for local water infrastructure projects.

It was announced late Thursday afternoon that New York’s Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors has approved more than $120 million in financial assistance for water infrastructure improvement projects across the state. In addition to grant money, it provides municipal access to low-cost financing for sewer infrastructure projects as well as new water lines and treatment processes to remove contaminants from drinking water. Some money comes from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and some comes from the state’s Water Infrastructure Improvement grant program.

Filling water glass. Photo by Peter Katz.

Yonkers will receive a $3-million grant for the installation of approximately 2,600 linear feet of water main along Nepperhan Avenue. Another $3-million grant is going to Mount Kisco for upgrades to the water treatment plant, water main replacement, and rehabilitation and improvements to four wells.

The Dutchess County Water and Wastewater Authority is to receive $8.8 million in short-term market-rate financing, a $4.5 million grant, and a second $449,914 grant for the installation of a new interconnection between the Greenfields Water District and the Hyde Park system to serve as an alternate water source due to the presence of contamination in the existing four wells in the Greenfield Water District.

The Village of Greenwood Lake in Orange County is receiving $2-million short-term market-rate financing and a $3-million grant for the redevelopment of existing wells, development of a new spring source, and rehabilitation of the existing water treatment plant.

U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan, whose 18th Congressional District includes all of Orange and most of Dutchess and Ulster, said, “Every Hudson Valley family deserves clean drinking water. From helping to eradicate PFAS (chemicals) from Dutchess County water to ensuring that parents in Greenwood Lake have the peace of mind that the water coming out of their faucet is clean and safe, this funding will be a game-changer for families across the Hudson Valley.”

State Sen. Pete Harckham said, “This infrastructure funding, including financial support to upgrade and rehabilitate the drinking water facilities in Mount Kisco, will allow municipalities statewide to invest in capital improvements and new technologies that will ensure that regulatory water treatment requirements are met.”