BIRD ISLAND TREATMENT FACILITY WET WEATHER CAPACITY PROJECT

About this project

The Buffalo Sewer Authority (BSA) Bird Island Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) currently serves residents in the City of Buffalo and surrounding suburbs. As part of a comprehensive plan to preserve the environment and continue its mission to close the health disparities gap, BSA has developed a Combined Sewer Overflow Long-Term Control Plan (CSO LTCP) to increase the capacity of the sewer system and of the Bird Island WWTF over a period of 20 years. The Bird Island Treatment Facility Wet Weather Capacity Project is a three-phase project that is expected to take approximately eight years to complete. It represents the largest investment in clean water infrastructure in Western New York in over forty years.

“This project will ensure greater water quality throughout Buffalo and downstream communities for generations to come.”

— Oluwole A. McFoy, P.E., General Manager Buffalo Sewer Authority

Phase I will rehabilitate the WWTF’s biological systems to improve treatment of current flows.
Phase II will rehabilitate and upgrade the WWTF’s physical treatment system to improve treatment of current flows and provide a new disinfection facility to improve the water quality of discharges into the river during wet weather events.
Phase III will further expand the WWTF’s biological system to handle more flow through the WWTF during wet weather.

Schedule

How will this work be funded?

The cost for this over $150M project is being shared by the people of the City of Buffalo, the State of New York, and the United States of America. The first phase has been funded entirely through grants and low-interest loans.  It is anticipated that the second phase will likewise be eligible to secure similarly favorable funding.  Favorable funding terms will similarly be pursued for the third phase to ensure an equitable cost burden for the people of the City of Buffalo.