BUFFALO, NY – The Buffalo Sewer Authority (BSA), elected officials, and community stakeholders gathered at Freedom Park to unveil the Queen City Clean Waters Initiative, a
$1 billion undertaking to improve local waterways over the next 15 years. The initiative will include infrastructure enhancements at 50+ sites across the city, including $250 million in upgrades at the Bird Island Wastewater Treatment Facility.
“The Queen City Clean Waters initiative is a community collaboration between BSA, the city of Buffalo, various community stakeholders, and residents to improve our local waterways and protect public health and safety,” said Oluwole A. (OJ) McFoy, Buffalo Sewer Authority CEO and General Manager. “This historic investment in our wastewater system infrastructure will reduce sewer overflows so that future generations can safely enjoy the vast recreational uses our waterways provide to our community and region.”
During heavy rainfall and snowmelt events, stormwater enters the sewer system, combining with wastewater, often leading to permitted combined sewer overflow discharges. These discharges are the result of the historical design of the city’s wastewater system, which was originally intended to prevent basement flooding.
Work already is underway at the Bird Island Wastewater Treatment Facility at Freedom Park, which is the first phase of facility upgrades and will significantly reduce overflows into the Niagara River. The 50+ planned projects will directly benefit other Western New York waterways including the Scajaquada Creek, Erie Basin Marina, Black Rock Canal, and the Buffalo River among others, by reducing sewer overflows.
“I am pleased that the Buffalo Sewer Authority’s Queen City Clean Waters initiative is highly focused on community engagement and making an historic and needed investment in the city’s wastewater system,” said City of Buffalo Acting Mayor Christopher P. Scanlon. “The Queen City Clean Waters inclusive and equitable approach is a priority of my administration and will help improve the quality of life of our underserved populations.”
The Queen City Clean Waters initiative includes a collaborative stakeholder engagement process that will be overseen by a Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). The CAC will play a crucial role in providing a platform for residents to voice their concerns and provide feedback and suggestions, on proposed projects in their communities. The CAC will be comprised of diverse community members and will act as a bridge between the BSA and residents, ensuring that the infrastructure investments reflect the needs and priorities of the community.
Jill Jedlica, executive director of Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper and a member of the CAC said, “Our organization has been advocating for years for a program to once and for all reduce the harmful bacterial pollution caused by sewage overflows into our area waterways. This initiative under the auspices of the BSA gives us hope that one of our major advocacy priorities is being addressed in such a comprehensive and thorough manner.”
In addition to the CAC, Buffalo Sewer Authority will partner with workforce development entities to engage residents in project areas and provide them with valuable career training and job opportunities.
Through our historic financial commitment to the Queen City Clean Waters initiative, the BSA Board of Directors is establishing a precedent of making investments in underserved communities that are historically neglected by infrastructure investments,” said Buffalo Sewer Authority Chairman Herbert L. Bellamy, Jr. “This initiative will foster strong community partnerships, create meaningful workforce opportunities, and result in long-term environmental and economic benefits for future generations in Buffalo.”
Throughout the project schedule, BSA will host informational workshops to inform potential design consultants, construction contractors, and vendors of initiative opportunities. Specifically, BSA aims to create space for Disadvantaged, Women, and Minority Business Enterprise (D/W/MBE) firms to connect with prime contractors and other partners.
Design consultants, construction contractors, and vendors interested in learning about upcoming capital project opportunities are encouraged to attend a virtual Informational “Open House” Session on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at 11:00 am EST.