CNY communities receive share of $55M in water-infrastructure improvement funds

Oneonta, Rome, and Lowville will benefit from $55.4 million in financial assistance for water-infrastructure improvement projects announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation board of directors approved low-cost financing through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund along with previously announced grants, authorizing municipal access to the capital needed to begin the drinking water and sewer projects.

Oneonta will receive nearly $6.75 million in long-term, interest-free financing for upgrades to the city’s wastewater-treatment plant.

Rome has two projects in the works. It will receive $3.56 million in long-term, interest-free financing for solids-handling improvements and nearly $3.12 million in long-term, interest-free financing for disinfection improvements at the city’s water-pollution-control facility.

Lowville will receive $133,334 in short-term, interest-free financing, nearly
$2.67 million in short-term, market-rate financing, and a $3 million Water Infrastructure Improvement Act grant to install two groundwater-supply wells, associated transmission mains and treatment, and upgrades to the village’s existing water-filtration plant.

In November, New York state voters approved the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act. The governor’s office contends it provides “historic levels of funding” to update aging water infrastructure, strengthen communities’ ability to withstand storms and flooding, reduce air pollution, restore habitats, preserve outdoor spaces, and “ensure equity” by investing at least 35 percent of resources in disadvantaged communities.