New York State Department of Health, Environmental Facilities Corporation and Village of Attica Announce Start of $19 Million Water Treatment Plant Improvement Project
$5 Million State Grant and Financing to Help the Village Replace its Water Treatment Plant and Protect Drinking Water
ALBANY, N.Y. (June 3, 2026) – The New York State Department of Health (DOH), Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) and the Village of Attica today celebrated the groundbreaking of a $19 million project to replace the Village's aging water treatment plant. New York has committed a $5 million State grant and low-cost financing to help make the project affordable. The funding bolsters efforts in Attica to safeguard drinking water and public health while protecting the pockets of local ratepayers.
"Under Governor Hochul's leadership and support, communities like Attica can rest assured their drinking water will meet strict standards that are protective of public health," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "New York continues to make good on this promise by including $3.75 billion for clean water infrastructure in the final budget. This commitment will support more projects like this that safeguard drinking water without bankrupting our communities."
EFC President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman said, "The project we're celebrating in Attica today is exactly why continued water infrastructure investment matters. Governor Hochul's new $3.75 billion clean water funding plan builds on proven programs that help communities get shovels in the ground and keep water utility costs affordable for families.
Village of Attica Mayor Nathan Montford said, "The calibration between both state and local entities on this project was second to none. I'm excited to be a part of this monumental achievement of providing quality water to my community for many years to come, due in major part to New York State's commitment to a cleaner and healthier environment for the future."
The upgrades to the water treatment plant will modernize treatment processes and ensure long-term compliance with state and federal regulations that protect public health. Once the project is completed, the Village will be able to address deficiencies, comply with the Sanitary Code, and provide adequate water quality and quantity for the Village and surrounding communities. The water treatment plant supplies water to the Villages of Attica and Alexander, as well as the Attica and Wyoming correctional facilities.
Governor Hochul's final FY2027 State Budget includes her bold five-year, $3.75 billion commitment to water infrastructure, which will bring total investments to $10 billion since 2017. It will deliver a record $750 million in water quality grants per year, a 50-percent increase from the $500 million that's been made available annually in recent years. This means an additional $250 million annually in grants to municipalities for projects that may otherwise be too cost-prohibitive to undertake.
The funding is through the State's Water Infrastructure Improvement (WIIA) grant program and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. These programs empower local governments to affordably advance their critical drinking water and sewer projects by helping them save significantly on debt service. Combining State and federal funding ensures every dollar goes further in modernizing aging infrastructure across the state, protecting public health and the environment.
This increased investment will allow local governments to continue to tackle legacy threats such as emerging contaminants and lead service lines, ensuring that New York remains a national leader in protecting our residents and environment, while providing clean, safe drinking water. The plan also includes a new Smart Growth Water Grant Program that will provide substantial funding to help communities affordably construct the drinking water and wastewater infrastructure they need to support housing and foster economic development.
This funding level will continue to uplift and support New York's premier water programs, including WIIA, the Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program, and the Lead Infrastructure Forgiveness and Transformation (LIFT) program.
Since 2015, WIIA alone has saved ratepayers $8.3 billion in potential financing costs. By continuing and expanding these grant programs, the State will continue to make essential local projects affordable for taxpayers.
New York's Commitment to Water Quality
New York State continues to increase its nation-leading investments in water infrastructure, providing $3.8 billion in financial assistance for local projects, including $1.1 billion in grants delivered in in State Fiscal Year 2025 alone. Any community needing assistance with water infrastructure projects is encouraged to contact EFC. New Yorkers can track projects benefiting from EFC's investments using the interactive project impact dashboard.
