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State invests millions in Tupper water

Mayor seeks construction this year on water system overhaul, completion next year

Tupper Lake village Mayor and Franklin County Legislator Paul Maroun. (Enterprise photo — Kelly Carroll)

TUPPER LAKE — New York state is investing $6.2 million in this village’s effort to overhaul its water system.

The state Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors has approved $3 million in grants and another $3.2 million in zero-interest loans for the village of Tupper Lake “to install new groundwater sources and make improvements to the existing distribution system including the installation of water meters,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office announced Thursday in a press release.

“It’s going to be a great thing for Tupper Lake,” village Mayor Paul Maroun said this morning. “We’ll see fewer chemicals and a complete upgrade of our water system.”

It’s part of a nearly $60 million package of aid to upgrade local water and sewer systems in 16 upstate communities. More than $25 million of that money comes in the form of grants, the rest in interest-free and low-cost loans.

Asked when Tupper Lake will see the changes implemented, Maroun said he hopes construction will move ahead full-steam this year with water flowing through the new system by early next year. Following the news of the grant, the mayor was already in meetings Thursday with consultants to begin planning the upgrade.

“It looks like contracts will be let in the next couple of months,” he said.

The most common concerns Maroun said he has heard regarding the upgrade are the potential for cost increases and the change to a metered water system.

“As of right now, we’re not talking about metering,” he said. “Down the road we may put meters in, but right now we will stay with what we have.”

As for the costs, the mayor said, “I think our water rates are fair and will stay the same.”

Upgrades to the drinking water system are just phase one of the village’s plan for municipal water improvements. The second phase will focus on the sewer system. Once the state opens the application period for additional grants, the mayor said the village is ready to act.

“We’ve got everything ready to go for round two,” Maroun said. “My real great hope is that we can get something similar (to that of drinking water improvements) for sewer.”

Asked about plans for sewer upgrades, the mayor said, “We’re just looking to upgrade the existing plant, (implement) new ways to filter sludge, (install) new pumps. But the plant is good. It passes all the tests. It’s getting older, but we’re hopeful we can make improvements.”

Cuomo was prominently criticized in 2015 by Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner for, she said, making it a low priority to help municipalities fix their old and often crumbling water and sewer pipes. The governor touted Thursday that the state typically spends $976 million a year to improve water quality and that his Executive Budget proposal includes a $2 billion Clean Water Infrastructure Act.

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