Nearly $26.1 million in approved financing and grants would replace thousands of lead service lines in Herkimer and Gloversville and upgrade part of the Town of Herkimer’s water system.

By David LaGuerre

Three Mohawk Valley water projects are included in a new $200 million round of New York State funding approvals for drinking water, wastewater and stormwater work. The local projects cover 3,478 lead service line replacements in the Village of Herkimer and City of Gloversville, plus a new water tank, pump station and aging-main replacements in the Town of Herkimer.

The Environmental Facilities Corporation board approved the package on Thursday, October 22. The state said the approvals combine grants, interest-free financing and low-cost financing to help municipalities move projects ahead without placing the full cost on local water customers.

Board approval is an important funding milestone, but it does not mean every project is finished or that construction begins immediately. It allows local governments to complete funding agreements with the corporation and draw money as eligible work proceeds.

What the Mohawk Valley water projects include

The local share totals about $26.08 million in project value and financing:

• Village of Herkimer: A $13.2 million project would replace 1,687 lead service lines. The package combines grants and interest-free financing. The state says a Lead Infrastructure Forgiveness and Transformation, or LIFT, grant will pay off the financing after project completion, leaving the work fully grant-funded.
• City of Gloversville: A $12.2 million project would replace 1,791 lead service lines. It also combines state and federal grants with interest-free financing. A LIFT grant is expected to pay off the financing after completion, making the project fully grant-funded.
• Town of Herkimer: The town was approved for $680,000 in low-cost financing for a new water storage tank, a new pump station serving the McKennan Road and Steuben Hill Road areas, and replacement of undersized, aging water mains and related equipment. The work is intended to improve water pressure and fire flow.

The Town of Herkimer and Village of Herkimer are separate municipal governments and water systems. Residents should look for notices from the government or utility that serves their address.

Why lead service line replacement matters

A service line carries drinking water from a public water main to a home or other building. Some older lines were made with lead, and lead can enter drinking water when plumbing materials corrode. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says service lines are among the most common sources of lead in drinking water. It also says identifying the material in each service line is a basic first step toward replacement and reducing exposure.

Lead is especially dangerous for children and pregnant people, but exposure can harm people of any age. Replacing an entire lead service line is a long-term protective measure. Partial replacement can disturb the pipe and may temporarily increase lead levels, which is one reason residents should follow their water system’s instructions during the work.

The Herkimer and Gloversville awards are large enough to remove thousands of lines without leaving local ratepayers responsible for the full construction bill. The state describes both projects as fully grant-funded after completion because the LIFT grants are designed to retire the interest-free financing. That structure still requires careful local administration, eligible spending and completion of the projects.

Residents can review the EPA’s lead service line resources for information on inventories, replacement planning and ways to reduce exposure. People should contact their water supplier before disturbing a suspected lead line.

How the statewide $200 million package works

The Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds provide more than $1 billion each year in grants and affordable financing, according to the governor’s office. Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act money has added to those funds since 2022, but the state said that extra federal funding ends this year.

The package also includes previously awarded grants through New York’s Water Infrastructure Improvement and Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure Grant programs. State officials say those programs have saved ratepayers more than $8.3 billion since 2015. The LIFT program is intended to cover lead-line costs that are not fully paid by federal grants.

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office said New York has invested $10.6 billion in water and sewer projects since 2021. That statewide figure includes many rounds of grants and financing and should not be confused with the $200 million approved in this board action.

Projects approved across New York

• Central New York: $16.1 million for sewer separation in Syracuse, $1.2 million for sludge-thickener improvements in Onondaga County and $1.3 million for wastewater disinfection upgrades in Forestport.
• Finger Lakes: $1.9 million for water-main and service-line work in Geneseo, $5 million for Rochester water-filtration improvements and about $830,000 for aging-main replacement in Romulus.
• Long Island: $4.7 million for carbon treatment in Hampton Bays, $1.5 million for a Suffolk County contamination study and $2.6 million for advanced treatment at a Suffolk County Water Authority well.
• Mid-Hudson: Financing for the Rye Lake filtration plant, including $40.3 million for Harrison, $12.1 million for the Town of Mamaroneck and $20 million for the Village of Mamaroneck. Poughkeepsie and Rosendale also received financing for filtration and storage work.
• North Country, Southern Tier and Western New York: Projects include wastewater upgrades in Chateaugay, a broad water-system replacement in Morristown, a $14.9 million water project in New Berlin and a $14.9 million wastewater system in Delevan.

The full award list and funding descriptions are available in the governor’s October 22 announcement.

What residents should watch for next

Local governments must now complete funding steps, contracting and construction planning. For lead-line projects, residents may be asked to help confirm the material entering their property, provide access for inspection or replacement, and follow temporary flushing or filter instructions. People should verify any request through an official municipal phone number before allowing someone into a home.

• Check recent mail, municipal websites and water bills for service-line inventory or construction notices.
• Ask the water supplier whether the pipe material for the property is known.
• Use only cold tap water for drinking and cooking, and follow utility instructions about flushing after construction.
• Use a filter certified for lead reduction if advised by health or water officials, and replace cartridges on schedule.
• Do not sand, cut or remove a suspected lead pipe without professional guidance.

The approvals build on a recent award round covered by the Utica Phoenix, including nearly $37 million for six Mohawk Valley water projects. Readers can also review our earlier report on statewide lead service line replacement funding and information from the Lead-Free Mohawk Valley Coalition.

Do you live in the Village or Town of Herkimer and have you received information about your service line? Share what residents still need to know in the comments, without posting private account or address details.