Village of Chatham Awarded $5 Million Water Infrastructure Improvement Grant

The Village of Chatham is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $5,022,115 New York State Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA) grant to support the development of a new well source to address inadequate source capacity in the Village’s drinking water system.

The grant was awarded through the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) as part of the State’s ongoing commitment to improving drinking water quality and reliability for communities across New York.

Mayor John Howe emphasized the importance of the project to the community’s health and economic vitality. For many years, the Village has been actively working to identify a redundant water source to ensure long-term reliability and resiliency of its water system. After an exhaustive search for a secondary source, it became apparent that the only viable option available was the construction of a backup water supply. The cost of such a project, however, presented a significant financial challenge for the Village.

The WIIA grant is critical to the successful completion of this project and allows the Village to move forward without placing additional strain on local residents.

Mayor Howe stated, “The grant is a huge step forward for the Village to be able to provide safe, clean drinking water for our residents and visitors.”

Prior to the awarding of this grant, completion of the project would likely have required a rate increase for Village water users. Mayor Howe expressed his appreciation that the successful grant application will help the Village avoid further financial burden on the community at a time when many residents are already facing economic challenges.

The Village will work closely with EFC, the New York State Department of Health, and its engineering team, LaBella Associates, to advance the project and meet all program requirements.