$23 million in state grants aim to prevent sewage overflows, protect WNY waters

Downtown is reflected in the water at the small boat harbor on Friday. (Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News)

A Wales forest will grow by a couple hundred acres to protect the Niagara River’s water quality miles downstream.

Six miles of Town of Tonawanda sewers will be lined to keep sewage from overflowing into Ellicott Creek and the Niagara River.

Mechanical and computer upgrades will help Buffalo hold back stormwater and sewage from the Niagara River until it can be properly treated.

These are among the projects across Erie County marked for roughly $20 million in state grants to improve water quality.

Others are planned in Cheektowaga, West Seneca and Lancaster.

In all, the state Department of Environmental Conservation has awarded $103 million in grants across the state.

“Access to clean water is critical to the health, safety and economic well-being of our communities,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said in a statement.

Western New York will get more than 20 percent of the state funding being spent from Long Island to Chautauqua Lake.

“This money is really a huge blessing,” said West Seneca Supervisor Sheila M. Meegan. West Seneca will receive $1.4 […]

Full article: $23 million in state grants aim to prevent sewage overflows, protect WNY waters

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