2 New Grants Move Westhampton Beach Sewer Project Forward

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — Work continues on a sewer project in Westhampton Beach that's set to open of avenues of opportunity for businesses downtown — and also mean great strides for the environment.

The village is preparing for the second phase of the project, which will include upgrades to Suffolk County's sewer treatment plant at Francis S. Gabreski Airport. As a result of working collaboratively with Suffolk County, the village will be able to connect its collection and conveyance system to the county's wastewater treatment plant, furthering the state's goal of shared services, according to Westhampton Beach Village Mayor Maria Moore.

To that end, two grants were recently garnered to move plans for the sewer project forward.

In December, the village was awarded $3,321,520 from the New York State Department of Conservation under its water quality improvement program, and $250,000 from Suffolk County under its water quality protection and restoration program, she said.

The first phase of the project, which kicked off with a groundbreaking last year, involves the construction of a collection and conveyance system that will service the commercial businesses on Main Street as well as businesses and condominium complexes south of Main Street.

The village accepted bids from Novelli Contracting Corp., for $12,344, and Hinck Electrical Contractor Inc., for $656,745, Moore said. The $12,344,000 bid from Novelli includes $1,177,000 to upgrade three of the village's municipal parking lots, Moore said.

"This work is not required as part of the sewer project, but because the three parking lots will be disturbed by the installation of the sewer pipes, the board determined it to be a good opportunity to upgrade the lots with new drainage, lighting and landscaping," Moore added.

Moore said the village has been "diligent in pursuing grant opportunities," and has received grants for the construction of the collection and conveyance system from the NYS DEC's water quality improvement project to the tune of $5 million, the NYS Environmental Facilities Corp's water infrastructure improvement act for $1.78 million, and the Southampton Town Community Preservation Fund's water quality improvement project plan, for $4 million.

As for the second phase, Westhampton Beach will be able to connect with the county plant at Gabreski as long as the village pays for the upgrades. The plans for the upgrades are complete and are now being reviewed by the county, Moore said, adding that officials are hopeful that they will be able to go out to bid on the upgrades in the next month or two.

The cost for the upgrades to the county's sewer plant has been estimated at $4.8 million, she said.

Plans for the project, a long-held dream for environmentalists and business owners alike, began with conceptual approval from the Suffolk County Sewer Agency to connect to the County’s STP at Gabreski Airport, which was obtained in July, 2015. Work is expected to continue through December.

"This is an important project for the village, both for the environment and for downtown revitalization, " Moore said. "It will eliminate approximately 5,000 pounds of nitrogen annually, reducing the waste to Moniebogue Bay by 24 percent. And it will allow for a lessening of restrictions in the downtown."