Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that over $69 million in grants, interest-free, and low-cost loans has been approved by the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors to support critical drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects across New York. The Board's approval includes nearly $1.4 million in grants that were previously awarded under the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act.

"Water quality and infrastructure are essential to sustaining and growing safe, healthy communities across New York," Governor Cuomo said. "These investments build on the state's efforts to provide clean water to residents and visitors, ensure wastewater systems are built to last, and improve water quality overall for a stronger, healthier New York."

To date, $225 million in WIIA grants have leveraged over $1 billion in total project costs for over 120 projects in New York State. These grants combined with low or no-interest loans have resulted in over $629 million in taxpayer savings.

Additionally, this year under the $2.5 billion Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 2017, $255 million in additional funding was made available for vital drinking water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades.

Grants approved at a board meeting on Thursday, September 14, along with the interest-free and low-interest loans provided by EFC, allow municipalities to finance these projects at a significantly lower rate than financing on their own.

The projects approved include:

Mid-Hudson Valley

• City of Kingston (Ulster County) - $2.4 million, including a $588,000 WIIA grant, and a $1.8 million zero-interest loan to finance costs associated with the planning, design and construction of improvements to the City of Kingston Wastewater Treatment Plant.
• Village of Washingtonville (Orange County) - $13.2 million, including a $6.6 million zero-interest loan and a $6.6 million low-interest loan to finance costs associated with the planning, design and construction of the upgrade and expansion of the Village's Wastewater Treatment Plant.
• Westchester County - $13.4 million, including a $6.7 million zero-interest loan and a $6.7 million low-interest loan to finance costs associated with construction of upgrades and enhancements at Westchester County's New Rochelle Wastewater Treatment Plant.
• Westchester County - $8.4 million, including a $4.2 million zero-interest loan and a $4.2 million low-interest loan to finance costs associated with construction of Phase III heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment replacement and odor control Improvements at the Yonkers Joint Wastewater Treatment Plant.
• Westchester County - $4.2 million, including a $2.1 million zero-interest loan and a $2.1 million low-interest loan to finance costs associated with construction, upgrades and enhancements at Westchester County's New Rochelle Wastewater Treatment Plant for Biological Nutrient Removal and Total Residual Chlorine control.
• Dutchess County Water & Wastewater Authority - A $4.1 million low-interest loan to finance costs associated with the planning, design and construction of the Greenfields Sewer and Wastewater Treatment Plant Rehabilitation.

Southern Tier

• Village of Addison (Steuben County) - $5.9 million including a $4.9 million zero-interest loan and $1 million in other funds to finance costs associated with the planning, design and construction of improving the Village of Addison's wastewater system.
• Town of Colchester (Delaware County) - $318,000 including a $191,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund grant and a $127,000 zero-interest loan and to finance costs relating to the construction of a new water treatment building to house a cartridge filtration system so that the water district's spring source may be used as a drinking water source. Other improvements include a new finished water tank level monitoring system, a back-up electrical generator, new chemical feed systems, and a new raw water tank.
• Village of Arkport (Steuben County) - $3 million including a $799,000 WIIA grant and $2.2 million in other funds to finance the costs related to the replacement of both raw water mains and finished water distribution mains and appurtenances. The project also includes rehabilitation to the spring collection system, intrusion alarms and back-up power at the treatment facility.

North Country

• Village of Alexandria Bay (Jefferson County) - $1.9 million including a $1.4 million Clean Water State Revolving Fund grant and a $496,000 zero-interest loan to finance costs associated with the planning, design and construction of replacement storm and sanitary sewers on Catherine Avenue and Cornwall Street and the in-place rehabilitation of portions of the sanitary collection system elsewhere within the Village of Alexandria Bay.
• Village of Gouverneur (St. Lawrence County) - A $1.4 million zero-interest loan to finance costs associated with the planning, design and construction of the Village of Gouverneur Combined Sanitary & Storm Water Collection System Improvements.
• Village of Gouverneur (St. Lawrence County) - $1.4 million including a $506,000 million zero-interest loan and $872,000 in other funds to finance costs associated with the planning, design and construction of the Village of Gouverneur WWTP Effluent Ultraviolet Disinfection System.
• Hague Community Homeowners Assoc. Inc. (Warren Country) - A $92,000 zero-interest loan to finance the costs related to the installation of a new surface water filtration plant, to bring the Hague Community Homeowners Association, Inc. into compliance with the Surface Water Treatment Rule. Other improvements include a new transmission main, replacement of existing distribution mains/valves and the installation of fencing.

Capital Region

• Albany Municipal Water Authority (Albany County) - $3.4 million including a $2.4 million low-interest loan and $1 million in other funds to finance the costs related to the replacement of an existing water storage tank located in the Harriman Campus and add a new booster pump station.
• Albany Municipal Water Authority (Albany County) - a $2.7 million low-interest loan to finance the costs related to upgrades to the water treatment plant. The disinfectant system will be renovated and recommended improvements to the treatment plant will be implemented.

Western New York

• Town of Randolph (Cattaraugus County) - $3.6 million, including a $2 million Drinking Water State Revolving Fund grant and a $1.6 million zero-interest loan to finance costs related to the decommissioning of the Reservoir Road Source and unproductive wells at the Hatchery Road Source Site. Additional work includes the development of one or more new well sources in the vicinity of the Church Street Well, Weeden Road, Hatchetry Road, and/or Reservoir Road Sites and improvements to the Randolph Tank. 885 new water meters at all service connections shall be installed.

Environmental Facilities Corporation President and CEO Sabrina M. Ty said, "Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, EFC remains committed to working with local governments throughout the state to finance important water quality protection and improvement projects, while reducing project costs and providing significant savings for our taxpayers. This funding will help protect drinking water, make necessary updates to wastewater infrastructure, and help strengthen the economies in these communities."

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner and Environmental Facilities Corporation Chair Basil Seggos said, "Access to clean water is a global issue with emerging challenges that require innovative solutions, bold action, and an unrelenting focus. Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, New York has become a national leader in ensuring safe, quality drinking water for our communities. The Governor has launched a series of aggressive water quality initiatives and is making generational investments to improve water infrastructure across the state. This funding will help local governments strengthen protections to drinking water systems while bolstering the state's economy."

Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said, "Clean water directly impacts the health of New Yorkers. Governor Cuomo has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to protecting water supplies across New York State and these efforts not only improve access to clean drinking water, but also safeguard New York's most precious natural resource. This funding will allow for vital upgrades which will allow these communities to better serve their residents for years to come."  

New York State leads the nation with the largest annual investment in water-quality infrastructure of any state. Since 2011, EFC has provided more than $11.5 billion in subsidized loans, grants and loan re-financings to local governments.