By Hank Russell
Long Island has received nearly $16.4 million for water infrastructure projects. The money was made available from the state, which allocated $269 million to help communities across the state affordably undertake water and sewer infrastructure improvement projects.
The Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors approved low-cost financing and state and federal grants that empower local governments to advance crucial upgrades — such as replacing lead service lines and removing emerging contaminants from drinking water — without passing high costs on to ratepayers.
“This investment is about making essential water improvements more affordable for communities across New York,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “By lowering costs for local governments, we are helping ensure New Yorkers can rely on safe, clean water without facing added financial pressure. These upgrades also strengthen our long-term resilience, ensuring our water systems can withstand future challenges and remain sustainable for decades to come.”
Environmental Facilities Corporation President & CEO Maureen A. Coleman said, “Communities need affordable solutions to take on complex infrastructure challenges. Combining the State Revolving Funds with State grants provides steady, long-term investment that helps communities achieve cleaner water and stronger systems while protecting the pockets of New Yorkers.”
The Town of Hempstead was given a $5 million state grant for the construction of a new advanced oxidation process, granular activated carbon, and green sand filter treatment systems to remove 1,4-dioxane and iron from East Meadow Water District Well No. 10.
“This support will help us make important repairs without raising costs for our families, especially our seniors who live on fixed incomes,” said Hempstead Town Deputy Supervisor Dorothy Goosby. “Everyone deserves clean water, and I am grateful for the Governor’s help in keeping our community healthy and strong.”
The Locust Valley Water District got a $4.9 million federal grant for the installation of two granular activated carbon adsorption treatment systems and associated appurtenances at Well 9 to treat PFOA contamination.
The Town of Smithtown received a federal grant in the amount of $998,200 to extend the boundaries of the Smithtown Water District service area to provide water to residences with private wells contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
“Without this funding, the cost of fixing PFAS contamination would have fallen directly on homeowners relying on private wells, often running into the tens of thousands of dollars per household,” said Smithtown Town Supervisor Ed Wehrheim. “For most families, that burden would simply be impossible to meet. The Local Water Infrastructure funding removes an insurmountable financial obstacle and replaces it with real, lasting protection for our residents. Everyone deserves access to clean, safe, drinkable water, without barriers or exceptions.”
The Suffolk County Water Authority received six state grants totaling $5.5 million for the construction of new advanced oxidation process treatment systems to remove 1,4-dioxane from Hawkins Road Well No. 2, North Washington Avenue Well No. 1, and Kings Park Road Well No. 2A. Another project entails the onstruction of new granular activated carbon absorption vessels to remove PFAS from Blue Point Road Well No. 4A, Boyle Road Well No. 2, and Foxcroft Lane Well No. 2.
Suffolk County Water Authority Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Szabo said, “The Suffolk County Water Authority is moving fast on projects that keep our customers protected from emerging contaminants, and this funding directly supports that work. We are already meeting the 4 parts per trillion national drinking water standard for PFAS years ahead of schedule and we’ve installed 19 advanced oxidation process systems for 1,4-dioxane — the most of any provider in New York. Grants like these are essential to keeping water bills stable at a time when affordability is top of mind for Suffolk families.”