City of Auburn Water Treatment Plant Receives $3.7 million NYS Water Infrastructure Improvement Act Grant
November 18, 2022 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Auburn Water Treatment Plant Receives $3.7 million NYS Water Infrastructure Improvement Act Grant
The NYS Water Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2017, also known as WIIA, administered by the New York State (NYS) Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) provides grants to assist municipalities in funding water quality related infrastructure projects. Earlier this month the EFC announced that it has awarded a $3,720,000 WIIA grant to the Auburn Water Treatment Plant Improvement Project.
“The Auburn Water Filtration Plant is 1917 construction; it has good bones but hasn’t seen an upgrade in over 100 years. We know we have to do it and the NYS EFC support with the project is significant and will assist us to cover 60% of project costs,” stated Seth Jensen, Director of Municipal Utilities for the City of Auburn.
In 2020, the Auburn Department of Municipal Utilities engaged contractor GHD, Inc. to perform a preliminary engineering report to examine multiple options for slow-sand and rapid sand plant upgrades at the Auburn Water Filtration Plant. The study documented leaks in the slow-sand clear well system recommending complete rehabilitation for both the rapid and slow-sand plants at the Auburn Water Filtration Plant. In the spring of 2021, the City Council awarded design and engineering services to contractor GHD, Inc. to implement the recommendations from the preliminary engineering report.
The construction phase of the Water Filtration Plant Improvement Project will consist of these major components:
- Demolition: existing pipe gallery, valves, pumps and old lines beneath the sand beds;
- Site work: limited to existing ground disturbance at Auburn WFP existing site;
- Rehab: plant-wide upgrades to equipment and piping to support new clear wells;
- Construction: provide ADA compliant access to filter buildings, roof replacement etc..
In July 2022, the City awarded the following contracts for the Auburn water Filtration Plant Upgrade Project:
- Contract No. 1 – General Construction to M.A. Bongiovanni of Syracuse;
- Contract No. 2 – Electrical and Instrumentation to J&E Electric of Auburn; and
- Contract No. 3 – HVAC to King & King Mechanical of Auburn.
Financing for the project was approved by the City Council with authorization of a $6.2 Million bond in 2021. The $3,720,000 WIIA grant will cover 60% of construction costs reducing the project cost burden to local users.
“We appreciate the support that Governor Hochul has demonstrated toward protecting the health and safety of our water infrastructure in our state. This WIIA grant award to Auburn is evidence that she takes our water infrastructure needs seriously and we thank her for her work on this project,” stated Mayor Michael D. Quill.
In the grant announcement from the Governor’s office Governor Kathy Hochul stated the following: "Grants are crucial to helping communities undertake environmental infrastructure projects that are vital to the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers, the resiliency of shoreline communities, and economic development that supports industry, businesses and homeowners. We are proud to support municipalities with a historic level of funding for water infrastructure improvements, and we'll continue our efforts to modernize our infrastructure and provide safe, reliable water systems for generations to come."
For more information, City of Auburn staff contact is:
Seth N. Jensen, P.E.
Director of Municipal Utilities
CITY OF AUBURN, NEW YORK
35 Bradley Street
Auburn, New York 13021
office 315-255-4180
mobile 315-727-6502
email: sjensen@auburnny.gov