By Hank Russell
Three Long Island water districts will receive a combined $11.4 million from the state’s $273 million financial assistance program for water infrastructure improvement projects across New York State. The funding was approved by the Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors.
The Board’s approval authorizes municipal access to low-cost financing and previously announced grants to get shovels in the ground for critical water and sewer infrastructure projects, including lead service line replacement and treatment processes to remove emerging contaminants from drinking water.
The three water districts getting a share of this funding include the Greenlawn Water District, the Port Washington Water District and the Westbury Water District. Greenlawn will receive a $1.4 million grant, which will be used to pay for the installation of two granular activated carbon adsorption vessels and all associated appurtenances to treat volatile organic compound contamination, specifically trichloroethene, at Wellhead No. 6.
Port Washington and Westbury will each get $5 million for their respective projects. Port Washington will use the money to pay for the construction of a granular activated carbon treatment system for the removal of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) from Well No. 7.
Westbury’s $5 million grant will be used for the installation of two pairs of granular activated carbon adsorption vessels and all associated piping, valves and appurtenances to treat PFOA and PFOS at Well Nos. 15 and 18.
“[The January 23] announcement is another large step towards ensuring that New Yorkers don’t have to worry if the water coming out of the faucet is safe,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “By helping communities fund essential upgrades to their water systems, we’re protecting public health, the environment, and New Yorkers’ wallets.”
U.S. Representative Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), who is a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus, helped negotiate the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which “is once again providing the funding our local water districts need,” he said. “These projects in Port Washington and Westbury are crucial investments that will not only safeguard and enhance our water infrastructure for future generations but also alleviate the financial strain on our local taxpayers.”