The Village is planning improvements to its drinking water and wastewater systems. This packet explains the work by the part of the system it affects, then brings together funding, possible customer costs, timing, and the decisions still ahead. Scope, financing, and rates remain subject to design, agreements, bids, and Village Board action.
(1) Drinking Water Source and Treatment
The current supply relies primarily on two wells installed in 2011. The engineer reports increasing sodium intrusion; well PW-1 has elevated iron and is primarily offline. McKenzie Pond has been maintained as an emergency backup. The proposed project would return the pond to active use, install filtration in the historic former pumping station at 17 Main Street, and retain the wells for redundancy.
- McKenzie Pond: inspect the raw water main and related infrastructure; upgrade pumping as needed.
- 17 Main Street: install filtration and pumping equipment, with historic preservation review. Chlorine contact occurs along the main to the View Street tank.
- Well system: attempt a PW-1 sleeve repair, test and monitor results, and upgrade outdated electrical, control, and other components. The repair is a pilot approach, not a guaranteed restoration.
(2) Drinking Water Distribution
The Village’s mains span more than 130 years of construction. The Lake Flower Avenue main has experienced frequent breaks, and undersized mains serving Rockledge Park contribute to low pressure.
- Core work: replace the Lake Flower Avenue main generally from Turtle Pond Road to Brandy Brook Avenue, with valves, hydrants, services, related utility work, and restoration.
- Core work: replace priority Rockledge Park mains on Stevenson Lane and Forest Hill Lane.
- If funding permits: additional priority mains on Margaret, Balsam, Leona, Baker, and Cedar.
(3) Wastewater Collection
The collection system carries sewage to the treatment plant. The engineer identifies five priority areas and recommends different methods depending on location and condition.
The Swamp and Trunk lines form the FEMA funded collection package. The remaining three lines form another package.
(4) Wastewater Treatment
The treatment plant project is intended to meet the plant’s 1 mg/L phosphorus permit limit and replace or rehabilitate aging assets. Work under consideration includes the influent building, grit equipment, primary clarifiers, primary effluent pumping, control building, aeration tanks, chemical feed, and sludge processing, plus electrical, mechanical, and safety improvements.
Funding and Financing
Drinking water funding detail: project has a recommended budget of up to $22 million. Its $19 million current package leaves a $3 million gap against that budget. Additional grants could fill the gap or potentially reduce borrowing; otherwise optional distribution work may be deferred.
Wastewater funding detail: NYSEFC IIJA/BIL grant $17,091,000; FEMA grant $5,255,799.68; NYSDEC Water Quality Improvement Project grant $9,315,400; NYSEFC zero percent loan $17,569,217. The stated loan term is 30 years. Grants do not require repayment; loans do, through system revenues.
