State awards tens of millions in funding for water infrastructure work in north country

Dec. 12—WATERTOWN — Gov. Kathleen C. Hochul announced Tuesday tens of millions of dollars in state grant funding for water infrastructure projects across the north country, including more than $30 million in funding within Jefferson County alone.

The largest funding amounts — $5 million each — will be going to the towns of Cape Vincent, Hounsfield and Pamelia, as well the Development Authority of the North Country, with the town of Clayton receiving the nearly similar amount of $4.94 million and the village of Alexandria Bay getting $4.8 million.

The money is included in $479 million in grants statewide announced by the governor from the Environmental Bond Act and the latest round of the Water Infrastructure Improvement and Intermunicipal Grant Programs. Part of that money comes from the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022, which was passed by voters in a referendum.

The grants are awarded by the state's Environmental Facilities Corp., in coordination with the state health and environmental conservation departments, and are part of the state's commitment to modernize aging water and sewer systems, according to a statement from Hochul's office.

In all, 156 water projects will receive funding in what the governor described as a "transformative" investment necessary to undertake water quality projects crucial to safeguarding public health, protecting the environment, bolstering communities' climate readiness and promoting economic development.

"No one in New York should ever fear that they don't have access to clean water," Hochul said in a statement. "We are reassuring communities across New York that your kids, grandkids, and great grandkids will always have access to clean and safe water. This investment will make lifesaving improvements to our water infrastructure and safeguard drinking water for millions of people, in addition to saving New Yorkers money and creating tens of thousands of jobs."

In Jefferson County, Alexandria Bay will use its funding for improvements to its wastewater treatment facilities. Cape Vincent will use the funding toward its Water District Number 7, while Clayton will use its award for a water main and intake replacement and Pamelia is also replacing a water main. DANC will use its $5 million for its first phase in replacing a water line that services Fort Drum. Hounsfield will use its funding in its Water Service Area Number 8.

The village of Dexter will receive $245,513 toward improvements to its wastewater treatment plant disinfection and the town of Watertown will use $444,500 toward improvements in its Water District Number 1. The village of Theresa is due $1.77 million for improvements to its wastewater treatment systems and pumping station.

In St. Lawrence County, the village of Canton will receive nearly $3.4 million in funding for improvements to its wastewater treatment plant. The town of Potsdam will receive nearly $1.4 million toward creation of the Route 56 Sewer District, while the city of Ogdensburg has been awarded $651,000 toward its East David Street infrastructure replacement project. The town of Hermon will realize $320,400 for improvements to its wastewater collection and treatment system.

In Lewis County, the village of Castorland is due $549,000 toward a project to replace its water storage tank. The village of Lyons Falls will receive $101,156 toward a wastewater treatment facility disinfectant project, the village of Port Leyden was awarded $178,250 for improvements at its wastewater collection and treatment facilities, while the town of Martinsburg will receive $255,400 for improvements to the hamlet of Glenfield's sewer district and its wastewater treatment plant.