Port Chester Will Receive $10M From NY For Needed Sewer Upgrades

PORT CHESTER, NY — Port Chester is flush with money for planned sewer upgrades thanks to an infusion of state funding.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Monday that around $110 million was awarded to 86 projects to improve water quality across the state. The grant programs support projects that will help protect drinking water, combat contributors to harmful algal blooms, update aging water infrastructure, and improve aquatic habitats in communities statewide, with more than $90 million of the funding supporting water quality improvements in Environmental Justice communities that have been disproportionately impacted by environmental pollution.

The Village of Port Chester's Sanitary Sewer Improvements Phase I project was awarded $10 million through the new round of funding. Port Chester will use the funding to upgrade its sewers from Ryan Street and Beech Street to Westchester Avenue and Smith Street. The upgrades will reduce inflow and infiltration in the system and eliminate illicit connections. The project is expected to reduce sanitary sewer overflows and help improve the water quality of the Byram River.

"Having already secured $4 million through the state’s WIIA program this additional funding will significantly enhance the village’s ability to mobilize phase 1 of our project and the balance of work to be done with a total budget estimated at $35 million," Village Manager Stuart L. Rabin said. "Infrastructure improvements and revitalization continues to be at the forefront of capital planning in the Village of Port Chester and I am very pleased to see that the state and our Governor is supportive of our enthusiasm and aspirations when it comes to improving our water quality and sanitary systems."

SEE ALSO:

• Smoke Testing In Port Chester Sewer Lines Will Identify Faults
• Largest Sewer Improvement Project In Port Chester History Gets Boost

"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 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."

The $110 million in grants were administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), with more than $108 million going to 51 projects through the State’s Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program and nearly $2 million going to 35 projects through the Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Mapping Grant (NPG). New York State continues to prioritize funding for projects that may help decrease the occurrence of harmful algal blooms (HABs). Nearly half of the WQIP and NPG awarded grants, totaling approximately $45 million, will support projects in watersheds known to have experienced HABs in the past five years and/or help implement a project identified in a DEC HABs Action Plan.

"Governor Hochul continues to demonstrate her commitment to improving water quality, I know how important it is to her," New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said. "She recognizes that we can't sustain the health of our communities and environment without access to clean water. The grants announced today will help communities across the state safeguard our drinking water so families know they have access to something that's not a privilege, but a human right."

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 New York'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.