Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Buffalo Sewer Authority (BSA) was joined Wednesday by elected officials and community stakeholders at Freedom Park to unveil the new Queen City Clean Waters initiative, a more than $1 billion undertaking to improve local waterways over the next 15 years.
The initiative will include infrastructure enhancements at 50-plus sites across the city, including $250 million in upgrades at the Bird Island Wastewater Treatment Facility.
"The Queen City Clean Waters initiative is a community collaboration between Buffalo Sewer, the City of Buffalo, various community stakeholders, and residents to improve our local waterways and protect public health and safety," said Buffalo Sewer Authority CEO and general manager O.J. McFoy on Wednesday. "This historic investment in our wastewater and stormwater infrastructure will reduce the overflows of combined stormwater and wastewater into the environment so that future generations can safely enjoy the vast recreational uses our waterways provide to our community and region."
During heavy rainfall and snowmelt events, stormwater enters the sewer system, combining with wastewater, often leading to permitted combined sewer overflows. These discharges are the result of the historical design of the city’s wastewater system, which was originally intended to prevent basement and street flooding.
Work already is underway at the Bird Island Wastewater Treatment Facility at Freedom Park, which is the first phase of facility upgrades and will significantly reduce overflows into the Niagara River. The 50-plus planned projects will directly benefit other Western New York waterways including the Scajaquada Creek, Erie Basin Marina, Black Rock Canal, Cazenovia Creek, and the Buffalo River, by reducing sewer overflows.
"I am pleased that the Buffalo Sewer Authority’s Queen City Clean Waters initiative is highly focused on community engagement and making a much needed investment in the city’s wastewater and stormwater systems," said City of Buffalo Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon on Wednesday. "The inclusive and equitable approach of this $1 billion infrastructure investment initiative is a priority of my administration, and we’ll be working closely with BSA to make certain that it results in tangible health and economic benefits for our underserved populations."
The Queen City Clean Waters initiative includes a collaborative stakeholder engagement process that will be overseen by a Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC). The SAC will play a crucial role in providing a platform for residents to voice their concerns and provide feedback and suggestions on proposed projects in their communities.
It will also help to identify ways in which this major infrastructure investment can create sustainable multi-generational wealth in these neighborhoods. The SAC will be comprised of diverse community members and will act as a bridge between the BSA and residents, ensuring that the infrastructure investments reflect the needs and priorities of the community.
In addition to the SAC, Buffalo Sewer Authority will partner with workforce development entities to engage residents in project areas and provide them with valuable career training and job opportunities.
Beginning today and continuing throughout the duration of the initiative, Buffalo Sewer will host informational workshops to inform potential design consultants, construction contractors, and vendors of initiative opportunities. Specifically, BSA aims to create space for Disadvantaged, Women, and Minority Business Enterprise (D/W/MBE) firms to connect with prime contractors and other partners.
Local News
Comments / 0