For many years, one of the biggest complaints of residents who live in Southwest Yonkers has been the odors eminating from the Westchester County Wastewater Treatment plant. Located at Fernbrook Street on the Hudson River, the plant treats most of the wastewater for all of the residents of Westchester County, not just the residents of Yonkers.
On April 12, the Westchester Board of Legislators voted unanimously to request more than $69 million in budgeted federal grant money for long-term odor-control repairs at the Yonkers Wastewater Treatment Plant. The request was part of a package of federal requests assembled jointly by County Executive George Latimer and the Board.
Legislator Jose Alvarado, who represents the 17th County Board district and southwest Yonkers said, “Odor Remediation has been a long-term project of mine for the communities of Southwest Yonkers.”
Alvarado said, “It’s not just an issue of quality of life, but also of environmental justice. We know that the environmental impact of facilities like this fall disproportionately on minority and poor communities. The Biden administration understands this too, which is why we believe we can be successful in obtaining this crucial federal help.
“But the County is not just waiting around for the federal aid. We are working now to improve life for residents around the plant.
“Last year, I and my colleagues on Board of Legislators approved $35 million dollars in new spending for broad-based improvements at the facility. This includes $7 million, on top of a previously allocated $5 million, for Phase IV of the odor control project at the plant. We also approved $13 million in new spending to replace the plant’s 40-year-old gates and values. Additionally we approved $15 million, on top of a previously allocated $43 million, to modernize the plant’s engines, blowers, aeration system and flood prevention facilities.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that residents living around this facility get the quality of life they deserve and I will continue to work with my colleagues on the Board, with the County Executive, and with our colleagues in the federal government to bring every resource to bear to improve conditions at the plant.”
