The Sewer Project – Phase I

Phase I - Upgrades for DEP Water Protection and Commercial Districts

The hamlets of Bedford Hills and Katonah long have been identified as a priority area of concern for addressing septic issues due to their location in the New York City watershed and with close proximity to the reservoir itself.

Years back New York City was part of a multi-governmental and agency agreement that led to funding for water quality improvement projects as well as an obligation for NYC to fund upgrades in certain wastewater treatment facilities on private property. This obligation is referred to as the regulatory upgrade program as it is tied to certain wastewater treatment which NYC is required to meet. Rather than upgrading those sites, NYC can enter into agreements to provide for an "alternative upgrade" under which the sites for which regulatory upgrades have been slated would be connected to a municipal sewer system.

The funds which NYC otherwise would apply to the regulatory upgrade would be applied to the cost of connecting to the system as a "connection fee". This alternative upgrade approach is the basis for $13.3 million in City funds to be applied to the Phase I sewer project such that Bedford Park Apartments in Bedford Hills, property of St. Mary's Church in Katonah and Katonah Elementary School would be connected to the sewer system on which we will began construction in the Spring of 2020. Coupled with that project is providing sewers for the business districts of Bedford Hills and Katonah.

The other regulatory upgrade site for which NYC is responsible, Bedford Lake Apartments in Bedford Hills will be also be decommissioned and connected to the sewer system. This entailed increasing the 500,000 gallons per day capacity of the WWTP of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision which the Town has taken over, as well as the extension of the collection system to reach the property.

Phase I was completed in 2021.