Senator Shelley B. Mayer and Assemblymember Chris Burdick joined Town of Pound Ridge Supervisor Kevin Hansan and Pound Ridge Water/Wastewater Task Force Chair Ali Boak to announce that the Town of Pound Ridge has been selected by the Environmental Facilities Corporation to receive a $7,634,900 award through New York State’s Water Infrastructure Improvement Grant program for the Town of Pound Ridge’s Scotts Corners Drinking Water Improvement Project.
The Town of Pound Ridge’s Scotts Corners Drinking Water Improvement Project will provide resources to protect drinking water in the town, promote environmental sustainability, and invest in infrastructure to safeguard the community.
The Town of Pound Ridge was issued two Notices of Violation by the Westchester County Department of Health for contaminated groundwater with elevated levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), exceeding the State and Federal drinking water maximum contaminant levels. Currently, the Scotts Corners area of the Town of Pound Ridge is served by individual privately owned wells and small non-community public water systems, which share the same groundwater resources as the impacted regulated wells. If left untreated, the contamination could spread and affect the health and well-being of the more than 100,000 people in the region who depend on the Pound Ridge reservoir system for drinking water.
With this grant, the Scotts Corners Drinking Water Improvement Project will install a new drinking water main from the Aquarion water supply system located on High Ridge Road, extending to Scotts Corners along High Ridge Road, Upper Shad Road, and Westchester Avenue. This new system will provide safe public drinking water to the existing buildings that rely on the water wells with PFOAS and PFAS, and other contaminants that exceed State and Federal drinking water maximum contaminant levels. Once completed, this project will resolve the Notices of Violation issued by the Health Department.
New York State Senator Shelley B. Mayer said, “I am pleased the Town of Pound Ridge was approved to receive the critical funding necessary to address the water supply and I was proud to support their application. This investment in safe and reliable drinking water infrastructure is critical for a thriving community. It will protect our residents’ health and quality of life, the ability of businesses in our business district to continue operating safely, and the ability of seniors and young families to remain in the Town of Pound Ridge. I thank the Pound Ridge Supervisor Kevin Hansan and Pound Ridge Wastewater Task Force Chair Ali Boak for their attention to this matter and the Environmental Facilities Corporation for approving this grant.”
Assemblymember Chris Burdick said, “Safe, clean, and toxic-free drinking water is absolutely essential to everyone’s health. The grant to the Town of Pound Ridge for its newly-created water district could not be more timely, and we are grateful for the NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation for its award of this lifeline grant. I also commend Supervisor Kevin Hansan and Wastewater Task Force Chair Ali Boak for pressing forward tenaciously for this grant, which will safeguard residents, prevent the closure of businesses in Scotts Corners, and provide for a path forward. There nonethless remains much work ahead, and as partners in government with the Town of Pound Ridge, Senator Mayer and I will do all we can to support the implementation of these necessary plans.”
Town of Pound Ridge Supervisor Kevin Hansan said, “Establishing a formal Pound Ridge water district in Scotts Corners is a critical step toward addressing PFAS contamination and resolving long-standing water quality issues in our business district. This NYS WIIA grant will significantly ease the financial burden on district property owners by facilitating access to clean water from Stamford, CT, reducing reliance on private wells. We are deeply grateful for the support of local, county, state, and federal officials, whose partnership is essential to securing water for the long-term vitality of our business district.”
Pound Ridge Water/Wastewater Task Force Chair Ali Boak said, “The WIIA funding allows Pound Ridge to safeguard the health of all who live and visit our business district while protecting the investments made to ensure a thriving business district. This project will also assist our property and business owners who depend on clean water to serve our community. Heartfelt thank you to Assemblyman Chris Burdick and Senator Shelley Mayer for their support in addressing this important issue and to leadership of the Town Board, the Pound Ridge WaterWastewater Task Force and to the fantastic team at Laberge Group.”
The Water Infrastructure Improvement Grant (WIIA) program is a New York State program to help municipalities undergo critical wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects. The WIIA is part of New York State’s negation leading efforts to upgrading water and sewer systems, reducing water pollution, and safeguarding vital drinking water supplies from emerging contaminants and toxic chemicals.
