In 2011, when Patchogue Village announced its wastewater expansion, from 500,000 gallons per day to 800,000 gallons per day, that project was put in place to advance the economic growth on Main …
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In 2011, when Patchogue Village announced its wastewater expansion, from 500,000 gallons per day to 800,000 gallons per day, that project was put in place to advance the economic growth on Main Street, which soon exploded, as well as the environment.
It was a $10,803,550 project completed on time, with new energy-efficient aerators and a host of county, town and DEC officials. Also, famous locals including Artie Fuccillo and Al Chiuchiolo.
Last week, it was announced that $7.7 million from a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Water Quality Improvement grant would be awarded to Patchogue Village, enabling a capacity increase to 1.2 million gallons per day.
This time, the money to expand will address the environment soley.
“This application was submitted last June by Marian Russo, who wrote the grant,” said mayor Paul Pontieri of the Dec. 21 announcement. “And the amount is exactly what we asked for.”
Pontieri explained that the wastewater treatment plant, between Hammond and South streets, was planned with modulars mind; in other words, designed with room to grow, a detail shared at the 2011 upgrading ceremony. No need to tear up the streets.
According to the grant, the project will allow additional connections as well as new equalization basins to be added to the treatment plant, with nutrient (nitrogen) removal capabilities to protect the downstream water bodies receiving the treated water—that is, Patchogue River and the Great South Bay.
“Sludge is removed and there’s a process that reduces the nitrates so that it improves the water quality,” Russo explained. “The advantage is the wastewater is treated, and clean water is released in the river. It helps the wildlife and nature.”
“We predicted we would expand one more time, so our NYS DEC permit allows us to increase to 414,000 gallons per day more,” Pontieri added. “H2M Architects & Engineers has planned for it on the site we have. The projected total cost of the project is $11 million.”
Russo explained the approval involved several years of work; a planning grant, which the village received for $30,000, was first sought in 2017. “Once you’ve done your plan, it’s approved by the DEC and Environmental Facilities Corp.; the next step is to get on the State Revolving Fund, used for paying for water-quality improvements,” she said. “We made the application in 2020, so we’re in the 2022 State Revolving Fund.”
There’s more to the project, Pontieri said.
“Out of the extra 400,000 gallons treated per day, 200,000 will be reserved for the village,” he said. “The rest can be used by the county to support Bayport-Blue Point and East Patchogue to Bellport. The expansion in 2011’s focus was on the environment, but also on economic development, which did what it was supposed to do. This expansion is totally about the environment. If communities can protect the environment, the economy of that region will grow.”
Pontieri said applications are in to both congressman Lee Zeldin ($5.6 million) and Sen. Chuck Schumer ($6.6 million), which, if received, would pay for the entire expansion.
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