27 municipalities selected to participate in NY clean water infrastructure program

(UC) — Governor Kathy Hochul has selected 27 municipalities to participate in a program in New York that will help develop asset management programs to evaluate, monitor, protect, and responsibly plan upgrades for wastewater infrastructure facilities.

The program supports ongoing efforts to ensure the responsible stewardship of New York's nation-leading investments in clean water infrastructure to protect public health and the environment and support local economies.

"The State's Asset Management Program advances resources and expertise to help municipal leaders establish robust programs to maintain and upgrade essential wastewater infrastructure systems," Governor Hochul said. "My administration is committed to helping local communities across the state protect wastewater systems that are often a municipality's single-most valuable asset. By evaluating flood resilience needs, these local asset management programs will help our communities mitigate the effects of climate change and better prepare for the future."

Asset management is a process that municipalities use to manage infrastructure investments. It includes procedures to inventory, assess, and track infrastructure throughout its life cycle. These procedures improve resiliency, longevity, budgeting, and proper operation of critical infrastructure, while supporting municipal planning and reducing costs over the long term. The program builds upon a successful $3 million pilot completed in 2021 and administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC). The pilot program helped 10 local governments across the state inventory their wastewater assets, identify risks to their wastewater infrastructure, and determine cost-effective, tangible solutions to address those risks.

The second phase of the State's Asset Management Program announced today will continue New York State's proactive approach to managing wastewater treatment by providing engineering consultant planning services, software management systems, and technical training to local governments. Consulting services will assist municipalities in identifying weaknesses in their current systems to promote repairs before a system failure occurs. The ability to minimize costly emergency repairs and prevent service disruptions will help protect public health and the environment.

Funding for the program totals $10 million that was made available through the Clean Water Infrastructure Act and is administered by EFC in partnership with DEC, which has regulatory oversight of wastewater facilities. EFC contracted with Arcadis of New York, Inc., to serve as program advisor, and 10 additional engineering firms to build local knowledge and capacity across New York State.

DEC selected 27 municipalities across the state to participate in the program which includes towns and boroughs in the Capital Region, Central New York, Finger Lakes, Long Island, Mid-Hudson, Mohawk Valley, New York City, North Country, Southern Tier and Western New York.

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