FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE05-23
May
05, 2005
Contact: Ian Michaels
(718) 595-6600
Hunter and New York City Celebrate Opening of New Wastewater Treatment Plant
Economic Opportunities Seen as $19.2 Million Treatment Plant and Sewer System Enable Development
Ribbon Cutting On Saturday, May 7th AT 2:00 PM
Commissioner Emily Lloyd of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Mayor Bill Maley of the Village of Hunter joined today to celebrate the completion of Hunter’s new wastewater treatment plant, which was financed by New York City as part of the historic 1997 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). The new plant will help protect water quality in the City’s West of Hudson watershed, which supplies 90 percent of the City’s water supply and also serves numerous upstate communities.
There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at the plant on May 7 th at 2:00 PM with Commissioner Lloyd, Mayor Maley and other local dignitaries. The plant is located on Route 23A about one mile west of the Village.
The new plant is also expected to help boost the local economy by alleviating the need for septic systems in the community, which had become increasingly difficult to build and maintain in the Village because of space constraints and environmental concerns. Over 400 homes and 50 businesses in Hunter are currently serviced by individual septic systems and many are outdated and prone to failure. In addition to serving homes and businesses, the new plant will allow the decommissioning of five aging and smaller privately-owned treatment plants which serve area townhouses, motels and the regional Hunter Mt. Ski facilities.
Commissioner Lloyd said, “ New York City is very pleased to have worked closely with the Village of Hunter to resolve a long term water-quality and economic development threat. By funding the construction of this state-of-the art facility we stand together with Hunter as partners who will share mutual benefits. This project exemplifies the compatibility of watershed protection and economic development.”
Mayor Maley said, "I am very happy to finally see the wastewater treatment plant completed. I am confident in the spirit of cooperation between the DEP and the Village of Hunter. Through cooperation the goals of both the City of New York and the Village of Hunter can be achieved. Watershed protection and intelligent economic development are in the best interest of both parties."
The new treatment plant uses the latest and most up-to-date technology, providing full primary, secondary and tertiary treatment for sewage from the Village. The biological treatment process will be extended aeration activated sludge process to allow flexibility of operation and to ensure seasonal treatment requirements are met. Tertiary treatment will be through the use of continuously backwashed upflow dual sand filters. Treated effluent will be discharged to Schoharie Creek.
The wastewater collection system will consist of a combination of gravity sewers, pump stations and force mains, and individual grinder pumps. It is currently about 90 percent complete and will eventually consist of about eight miles of sewer lines. At this point only the Hunter Mt. Ski facility is connected to the system. Residents of Hunter by the end of the month will receive a package in the mail with information about connecting to the new sewer system.
Prior to construction, an extensive study was conducted to assess Hunter’s wastewater needs, to estimate the amount of sewage the plant would have to treat, and to identify appropriate wastewater collection, treatment and disposal options. The study concluded that the Village should construct a wastewater collection system and treatment plant suitable for handling a seasonal average daily flow of 338,400 gallons per day, which is what the plant is constructed for.
Hunter entered into a contract with DEP’s contract facilitator (the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation) in October 2001 to design and construct the treatment plant and associated collection system. The cost for design and construction of the plant and the tie-in facilities needed to decommission the five smaller private treatment plants is $19.2 million.
Under the 1997 MOA, the DEP has provided a total of $87 million to a New Infrastructure Program intended to build wastewater collection and treatment facilities in seven communities – Hunter, Fleischmanns, Windham, Andes, Roxbury, Phoenicia, and Prattsville. Wastewater projects have been already been substantially completed in Andes and Roxbury and are nearing completion in Windham. Construction is now underway in Fleischmanns and will commence in Prattsville later this year. Phoenicia started its one-year design phase in March.
A more detailed description of the treatment process at the new plant would show an influent pump station, flow equalization, primary clarification, an extended aeration activated sludge process for secondary treatment, secondary clarification, tertiary filtration with phosphorus removal through continuously backwashed upflow DualSand filters, chlorination for disinfection, de-chlorination, and discharge to the Schoharie Creek. The wastewater treatment system also includes a residual waste sludge management system consisting of sludge digestion and a belt press for sludge dewatering. Dried sludge will be disposed of at an approved off-site facility.