Peekskill Receives Grant For Sewer Line Replacement Project

PEEKSKILL, NY — The city of Peekskill was recently awarded more than $800,000 in funding for its inflow and infiltration sewer line replacement project.

The grant came from the New York State Regional Economic Development Council through the Water Quality Improvement program, according to a spokeswoman.

The project will separate 12 catch basin stormwater connections from its sanitary sewer system to reduce the amount of stormwater that flows with sewage to the county wastewater treatment facility, helping to improve the city's infrastructure and water quality in the Hudson River.

What will be required for the separation is the installation of 3,000 feet of new stormwater pipes, which will also be covered by the grant.

Peekskill Mayor Vivian McKenzie said it was exciting to receive the grant for the city's water improvement project.

"These funds will enable the city to improve its infrastructure, preserve the health and safety of our residents and allow for continued economic growth," she said.

The project began with a city-funded study by Hudson Engineering that identified cross-connections between the stormwater and sewer systems and the work needed to disconnect these systems in the vicinity of Louisa Street pump station at the intersection of Lower South and Louisa streets.

Stormwater runoff entering the sewer system, according to experts, increases the cost of both the pump station and treatment plant operations and may cause sewer overflows, leading to potential health hazards, water pollution and excessive energy consumption.

The city then hired Barton and Loguidice to work with city staff using the engineering study to prepare a grant application through the state.

Officials said the next steps are to hire an engineer to prepare construction plans and bid the project out for actual construction, which is likely to take place in the spring of 2023.

The project is one element of the city's water infrastructure improvement strategy, which includes improvements to the city's reservoirs, replacement of aging valves and hydrants in the water distribution system and the replacement of one of the city's three water storage tanks, among other projects.