New Disinfection System Funded For Rye Lake Pumping Station

RYE, NY — The Westchester Joint Water Works will receive a $3.2 million grant for the construction of a new ultraviolet light disinfection facility at the Rye Lake Pump Station.

Local governments face many challenges in making necessary improvements for their water supplies, Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner and EFC Board Chair Basil Seggos said. "New York State is making generational investments to help communities across the state address long-standing needs to upgrade and improve aging water infrastructure."

The WJWW is a non-profit public benefit corporation of the Village of Mamaroneck, Town of Mamaroneck and Harrison. The WJWW supplies water on a retail basis to its member municipalities and to portions of the cities of Rye and New Rochelle. It also sells water on a wholesale basis to Larchmont and Suez Water Westchester.

The Rye Lake pumping station is located at 900 Lake St. and is on the shore of Lake Rye, a few feet from Interstate 684. Lake Rye is connected to the Kensico Reservoir water system, which holds more than 30 billion gallons of water at full capacity.

This state award is part of $41 million in funding that includes low-cost loans and previously awarded grants, enabling the recipients to move their water and sewer infrastructure projects forward, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday.

"The State of New York is steadfast in our commitment to providing communities with the resources needed to make upgrades to water and sewer systems," said Hochul, who is planning to put a $4 million clean water initiative on the ballot in November.

Drinking water project funding approved for the Hudson Valley:

• Westchester Joint Water Works in Westchester County - $3,200,000 inter-municipal grant for the construction of a new ultraviolet light disinfection facility at the Rye Lake Pump Station.
• Town of Crawford in Orange County -$2,311,680 grant, $711,329 in short-term, interest-free financing and $1,422,658 in short-term, market-rate financing for the construction of two production wells and a water treatment building, and installation of approximately 6,100 linear feet of water main to connect the treatment facility to the distribution system.
• New York City Municipal Water Finance Authority - $150,000,000 in long-term leveraged financing for the design and construction of the Croton Water Filtration Plant in the Bronx and associated facilities.
• Village of Nyack in Rockland County -$3,000,000 grant to replace approximately 13,000 linear feet of water main.
• Town of Cairo in Greene County - $1,607,457 in long-term, interest-free financing to develop additional groundwater source capacity; improve the Park Well site and existing finished water storage tank, distribution system upgrades and installation of new water meters and meter reading equipment.

In addition, $284 million in long-term leveraged financing will help the New York City Municipal Water Finance Authority design and construct various combined sewer overflow, wastewater collection system, and treatment plant improvement projects that would have an effect on the Hudson River.

"New York's significant fiscal commitment to improving source water quality and drinking water statewide is demonstrated in the wastewater and drinking water projects being funded here," New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said. "The impact of these necessary upgrades will be measured in overall public health for years to come, and I urge eligible communities to take advantage of this assistance."

A first step to get funding for local water quality projects like these is local government participation in the federal Clean Watersheds Needs Survey starting in March, officials said. That affects how much federal money will be allocated to New York State to fund future clean water infrastructure projects.

"We must ensure that we maintain the high level of federal Clean Water State Revolving Funds the state receives," Environmental Facilities Corporation President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman said. "That is why it is critical that our municipal partners participate in the Clean Watersheds Needs Survey that opens next month."

Municipalities will be asked to document their community's wastewater infrastructure needs to the EFC for submission to the EPA.

Also to protect New Yorkers' drinking water, Hochul is planning to put $4 billion on the ballot in November for a Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act.

If approved by voters, the initiative would provide support to protect and improve water resources; restore critical environmental habitats; reduce flood risks; conserve additional lands and open spaces; and invest in climate change mitigation projects to reduce pollution and lower carbon emissions.

"These critical projects will help protect the health and safety of residents, the environment, and quality of life as we work together to assist residents in every corner of the state with access to safe, clean water and reliable sewer services," Hochul said.