State to Upgrade Lake George Wastewater Treatment Plant
Additional $9.4 Million In Funding Fills Project Budget Gap and Brings Total State Investment to $14.9 Million
Investment Will Save Village Taxpayers Nearly $25 Million
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the 25th proposal of his 2020 State of the State agenda — protecting the health of Lake George’s waters. New York will provide an additional $9.4 million in grants to the Village of Lake George in Warren County to repair and upgrade its wastewater collection infrastructure and preserve the water quality and natural beauty of Lake George. The $9.4 million will be provided by the State in addition to a $3 million Water Infrastructure Improvement Act grant and a DEC-funded $2.5 million Water Quality Improvement Project grant, filling a budget gap in the project and bringing total state investment to $14.9 million. The remaining cost of the project will be covered by a zero-interest loan from the Environmental Facilities Corporation. This investment will result in a total savings to village taxpayers of nearly $25 million.
«Lake George is a crown jewel of New York’s many beautiful lakes and waterways. This critical water infrastructure project will both ensure the continued health of the lake’s pristine waters and further economic growth throughout the region,» Governor Cuomo said. «New York is leading the way in protecting water quality, which is why the state is investing a historic $3 billion dollars to help municipalities address these challenges head-on.»
The Village of Lake George will start construction of significant plant upgrades in August 2019, and complete construction in August 2021. The upgraded wastewater treatment plant will enhance Lake George’s water quality and continue the Village’s efforts to reduce nutrient pollution that can trigger harmful algae growth in the lake’s famously clear waters. The project will have an estimated cost of $24 million.
Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, the State is doing more than ever to ensure the longevity of safe and healthy water bodies in New York. Launched in 2018, the Governor’s $65 million comprehensive initiative to combat the risk of harmful algal blooms is targeting priority waterbodies statewide. Lake George is one of 12 waterbodies that have been subject to intensive action planning. Moreover, the Governor is investing $3 billion in water quality projects across New York through the Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 2017 and subsequent commitments.