Amenia weighs water district project

AMENIA — Well along in the process of planning for upgrades and repairs to the town’s water district infrastructure, the Town Board heard a report from the project engineers at its regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 20.

A public hearing will be held on Thursday, March 6, at 7 p.m. to hear comments on the Map, Plan and Report engineering phase. Following the public hearing, the Town Board will discuss the comments heard and could vote to approve the plan report that same night, clearing the way for grant funding applications to be submitted.

The engineering report is available for viewing on the Town of Amenia website.

Representing the project’s engineering firm, Delaware Engineering of Albany, were Tracey Ledder, Senior Environmental Scientist, and Kelsey Butera, Engineer.

Scope of the project was reviewed by Butera who described highlights of the work to be done, noting that the town’s water district has two water plants and 15 miles of water mains serving the district’s water customers. Daily water usage measures about 60,000 gallons.

The total projected cost for the upgrade is $3.9 million, to cover infrastructure upgrade and quality improvement, as outlined by Ledder.

Replacing the Lavelle Road pump house is estimated at $830,000. Storage tank rehabilitation will incur costs of $230,000 and $1.73 million, exterior and interior, respectively. Upgrading water mains and fire hydrants is estimated at $1.07 million.

Some funding sources have been identified as part of Delaware’s services, Ledder explained, and a new water usage rate structure would be devised for district customers, based on benefit, whether one-family residential or commercial usage.

Councilmember Rosanna Hamm asked about assistance with grant funding applications, learning that Delaware provides that help.

“This is a good time to seek funding for water projects, as opposed to wastewater projects,” Town Supervisor Leo Blackman said.
Hamm expressed her concern about the town’s aging infrastructure, including fire hydrants that suffer from low pressure.

Butera noted that most of the town’s fire hydrants are in good working order. Blackman added that valve replacement is included in the project scope, where necessary.

“I feel much better about the water system, now that it is being looked at in such detail,” Blackman said.