State Senate candidate Anthony Merante is calling for an independent investigation into the July 3 power failure at the Yonkers Joint Wastewater Treatment Plant, which resulted in partially treated wastewater being released into the Hudson River.
The plant serves communities throughout southern and western Westchester and is critical to protecting public health, local waterways and the Hudson River. A major failure can expose residents to harmful bacteria and contaminants, threaten recreation and wildlife, and cause sewage backups in homes, businesses and surrounding communities.
“The Yonkers wastewater plant protects the health and safety of hundreds of thousands of Westchester residents,” Merante said. “Reliable power, functioning emergency generators and modern treatment equipment must be a top priority, not an afterthought.”
Westchester County owns and operates the plant, while New York State regulates the facility and helps finance improvements. Both the county and state governments have been controlled by Democrats for years, yet the aging plant remains vulnerable to electrical failures, flooding and equipment breakdowns.
“Democrats love to give lip service to protecting the environment and the Hudson River, but when it comes to actually doing the work, Andrea Stewart-Cousins and the Albany Democrats are nowhere to be found,” Merante said.
The public has not received a complete explanation of why the plant lost normal electrical service and was unable to transfer successfully to emergency generator power.
Merante is calling for:
- An independent investigation into the power and backup-system failures
- The public release of generator inspection, testing and maintenance records
- A comprehensive and fully funded modernization plan
- Greater accountability from county and state officials
“We cannot wait for another failure that creates an even greater public-health and environmental disaster,” Merante said. “Westchester residents deserve answers, accountability and action.”