Newly Established Municipal Sewer System Will Help Support Future Commercial Development
Part of New York State’s $300 Million Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced construction has begun on the Town of Oswego’s sanitary sewer in Oswego County. The $4.8 million project is part of the State's Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative. Once complete, the project will establish a municipal sewer collection system for the residents and businesses situated along portions of County Route 89, State Route 104, and Fred Haynes Boulevard adjacent to Lake Ontario and SUNY Oswego. Modern, resilient clean water infrastructure will help reduce risks to public health and the environment during future high-water events.
"In 2019, historic flooding along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River devastated the infrastructure and economies of communities throughout the region," Governor Hochul said. "Through the REDI program, New York is continuing its promise to assist shoreline communities in combating the impact of flooding and extreme weather due to climate change. Through our partnerships with local governments, like the Town of Oswego, we are building back better and more climate resilient while enhancing the quality of life for future generations."
High lake levels and inadequate subsurface conditions have significantly impacted onsite private treatment systems, especially for many local businesses. Affected business owners have had to install holding tanks and/or complex onsite treatment systems thus hindering sustainability and future development. The new municipal sewer collection system will serve approximately 176 users, including an estimated 140 homes, and seven businesses with sewers along Fred Haynes Boulevard for future commercial development.
Resiliency measures of the project will include approximately 33,000 linear feet of mainline pipe and lateral connections to establishments, as well as the installation of two primary pumping stations to transmit wastewater to the City of Oswego.
The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation is administering the $4.8 million grant for the project.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner and REDI Commission Co-Chair Basil Seggos said, "With Governor Hochul’s support, New York State is mitigating the impacts of our changing climate and protecting flood prone communities across the state. By making strategic investments through REDI, New York State is proactively improving vulnerable infrastructure, like the sanitary sewer system in the Town of Oswego, to protect residents and community assets from future high-water events. DEC is proud to work with the Town of Oswego and our state agency partners to advance the REDI mission of reimagining at-risk infrastructure, enhancing public safety, protecting the environment, and safeguarding communities along the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River."
Empire State Development President, CEO, Commissioner and REDI Commission Co-Chair Hope Knight said, “With nearly half of the REDI projects completed, Governor Hochul’s REDI Commission has made a very noticeable difference in helping boost resiliency and recreational opportunities for Lake Ontario shoreline residents and visitors alike. The new municipal sewage system in Oswego is another critical project that will strengthen the infrastructure that is vital for the targeted community. When complete, it will help residents and businesses be better prepared for future high-water events- which is key to ensuring a flourishing economy for Lake Ontario communities.”
New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “Governor Hochul’s continued support of the REDI Commission has put dozens of shoreline communities on a path toward greater resiliency and sustainability in the face of global climate change. I have seen firsthand the damage and devastation that flooding along the Lake Ontario shoreline can cause. With climate change making extreme weather events more and more common, strong action is necessary and that’s just what the funding being provided by the REDI Commission provides. This project in Oswego County will protect public health, homeowners, businesses, and the environment.”
New York State Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy said, “The Oswego Sanitary Sewer project represents Governor Hochul’s ongoing commitment to invest in critical infrastructure that contributes to the long-term resiliency and economic vitality of flood-prone areas along Lake Ontario. Through the REDI program, the state continues to safeguard the residents and businesses of this region against the damage caused by high water levels.”
Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman said, “EFC today celebrates with the Town of Oswego and our partners in government the start of this critical environmental infrastructure project. We are proud to further EFC’s mission through REDI by empowering local communities with the capital and assistance needed to construct resilient and modern water and sewer systems.”
State Senator John W. Mannion said, "This important infrastructure investment will improve public works systems for Oswego County residents and businesses. The new sewer collection project will be more resilient to flooding and other environmental challenges, and it will allow for future growth in the area. The Senate Majority has been committed to building and maintaining New York’s critical infrastructure and I’m grateful for the leadership of Governor Hochul and DEC for moving this project forward.”
Assembly Minority Leader William Barclay said, “This transformative sewer collection system project will benefit hundreds of users including homes and businesses in the Lake Ontario shoreline community. I am thrilled to share my support for this infrastructure initiative, which will contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable environment and cultivate future economic development opportunities for the region. The REDI fund remains a welcome investment in our community as these projects provide significant upgrades and improvements to the coastline area.”
Oswego Town Supervisor Daniel Gurney said, “The town of Oswego is excited to see this monumental project underway. This is the largest infrastructure project the town has undertaken, and the benefits of the project are far reaching for future commercial development along the Fred Haynes Corridor and for town residents. This process has been an excellent example of the feats we can accomplish when state and local government work together.”
In response to the extended pattern of flooding along the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, New York State established REDI to increase the resilience of shoreline communities and bolster economic development in the region. Five REDI Regional Planning Committees, comprised of representatives from eight counties (Niagara and Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga and Oswego, and Jefferson and St. Lawrence) were established to identify local priorities, at-risk infrastructure and other assets, and public safety concerns. Through REDI, the State has committed up to $300 million, to benefit communities and improve resiliency in flood prone regions along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.
Since the creation of the State’s REDI program in Spring of 2019, 134 REDI funded local and regional projects are underway, including 29 projects in the design phase, 44 projects in the construction phase, and 61 projects completed.