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 combatting 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.
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.”
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.
