SCHENECTADY – The city of Schenectady is on the verge of receiving a substantial $10 million state grant, aimed at enhancing the resilience of the Mohawk River. This is in addition to further grant funding that will be utilized to upgrade the city’s pump station.
The generous $10 million grant, courtesy of the state Department of Environmental Conservation, will empower the city to expand its collection system pumping capacity and minimize inflow to the river system. The project is meticulously designed to curtail sanitary sewer overflows during periods of heavy rainfall.
The ultimate goal of the project is to significantly improve the water quality of the Mohawk River.
According to Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy, this project has been in the pipeline for several years, with the city having submitted its state application within the past year.
“This is a monumental step towards ensuring our services remain affordable and we continue to provide top-notch water and wastewater treatment facilities for the residents and businesses in Schenectady and some of the neighboring communities,” he expressed on Tuesday.
In addition to this, the city is set to receive $50,000 in funding from the state Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) for an engineering report. This report will explore potential upgrades to the city’s South Ferry Street Pump Station and Broadway Pump Station.
“The piping in that area has been in place for quite some time and it’s undersized,” McCarthy noted.
The state funding will enable the city to strategize and design replacements for the two pump stations, which are currently affected by extreme weather conditions.
The preliminary engineering report, funded by the grant, will suggest replacement equipment and features to address planned upgrades at the pump facilities.
McCarthy emphasized that the two state grants for the river project and the pump station reconstruction are interconnected.
“During high water events, additional water infiltrates into the wastewater system, which increases the utilization of the wastewater treatment facility on Anthony Street,” McCarthy explained.
The pump station grant is a part of a whopping $166 million in state funding that is being distributed to 187 projects statewide. This is part of a concerted effort to enhance water quality.
The grant funding encompasses projects that aim to safeguard drinking water, modernize aging water infrastructure, tackle contributors to harmful algal blooms, and improve aquatic habitat in communities across the state.
“New York’s record investments in water quality continue to protect New Yorkers’ health, the economy, and quality of life,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. “Communities across the state will benefit from this critical water infrastructure funding, which will protect water quality, prevent pollution and improve habitats.”
Agree – That’s great news for the Schenectady community and the environment! #sustainability #funding
Great news for the community! #environment #funding
Disagree – There are other areas with more pressing needs that could benefit from this funding.