Albany is helping the Town of Cheektowaga in its ongoing effort to reduce sewer overflows into Scajaquada Creek.
At a press conference on Alpine Pl., Senator Tim Kennedy and Assemblymember Monica Wallace announced Thursday that the state has awarded the town a $5 million dollar grant for relining and repairing old sanitary sewer pipes. Wallace says it's a fantastic and important investment by the state.
"As we know, the town has been working very diligently to upgrade its infrastructure over the past few years and to comply with a DEC consent order because the town, like all of us, recognize how important it is to ensure that we have clean safe drinking water in our community," Wallace said.
Jill Jedlicka, Executive Director of Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper says, the state grant is a strategic investment in the region's water infrastructure.
"That is an investment in our economy. That's an investment in our quality of life. And it's only going to have multiple returns for everybody within the community. It creates jobs. It creates clean water. And it creates a healthy economy," Jedlicka said.
Sen. Kennedy says modernizing and improving Cheektowaga's aging sewer system is no small feat. He says it could take years to complete and cost in excess of $50 million.
