Newfield receives state grant for water district improvements

Newfield officials and residents have waited six frustrating years to begin the process of upgrading the town’s water district.

The process officially began in early November, when the town received a $4.2 million Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA) grant through the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC).

The grant funding will allow the town to replace two pumps and the pipes connected to the water district located at Pine Circle. Town Supervisor Mike Allinger said that the facility hasn’t had major improvements since the water district was built in the early 1970s.

“All of the pipe [installed] since that time has not been renewed, maintained or fixed in any way, other than to find leaks when they happen,” Allinger said.

The town applied for WIIA grant funding for four straight years, falling short on the first three attempts.

Now, town officials can work with an engineering company on a design plan for the water district project and put it out to bid for contractors.

“Although the grant award is but a first step to moving forward on these improvements, it has been key, as the cost of making the improvements has been beyond the capacity of the town’s annual budget,” Allinger said.

The hunt for grant funding began in 2018, when Jeffrey Hart was the town supervisor. During the process, the town locked in funding for improvements to the sewer district.

Allinger said that the sewer project was completed during the summer. He noted that because it took two years for the town to finish the sewer project, he anticipates that the water district will also take time to break ground.

Based on experience and timing, Allinger hopes the water district project will get underway in spring 2027.

“We know it’s going to be a long process, but we are very excited to be moving forward,” Allinger said.

Uncertain whether the water district project will come with extra costs, Allinger noted the cost will be based on the bids the town receives from contractors.

Allinger noted that the effort to keep the water district operational also meant that the town had to make some hard decisions. 

He added that specific companies can blow through the pipes to clean out any sediment or dirt. Unfortunately, that option wasn’t possible for the town.

“It’s old infrastructure that’s been sitting there. We can’t even clean out the pipes,” Allinger said. “We don’t dare apply that pressure to the pipes, simply because they are so old we’re afraid that the pressure will shatter the pipes.”

The two pumps at the town’s facility were in need of maintenance, but an alternative plan was needed if the pumps failed. Allinger said that  the town was able to install backup wells.

The backup wells will be vital for when the water district project begins.

“We had to mediate by drilling two other wells to use as an alternative. In a water district, you need to have an alternative source if one of the pumps fails to operate,” Allinger said. “We can take the pumps off service during [the project], pull and maintain them. I think at this point the pumps will just be replaced.”

Allinger noted the competitiveness of securing WIIA grant funding. EFC has prioritized funding to municipal water districts that were in an emergency situation and close to shutting off.

The town, however, was able to show EFC that the WIIA grants will help to remediate the issues in Newfield’s water district.

“We finally crossed the threshold where we were able to convince [EFC] that this was a high priority to expend this money,” Allinger said.

The town’s WIIA grant application, submitted in the spring, included data from customers in the water district. The town provided proof from social media that the water was “tainted” and had sediment coming through faucets.

“That helped to demonstrate to [EFC] the need we were in to address these problems and get these remedied before they got to the point where we couldn’t supply water,” Allinger said.

It’s been six long years for the town to get funding for the project, but the importance of improving the water district is what kept the town motivated.

“We’re grateful that we were finally accepted by the folks at EFC for this grant. It’s been a long time coming,” Allinger said.

Newfield Notes appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Crochet workshop at the library on Nov. 23

The Newfield Public Library, located at 198 Main St., will host a crochet workshop on Nov. 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Participants will create a beginner-friendly crocheted pumpkin. Supplies will be provided, but people can bring their own materials.

For more information, contact the library at 607-564-3594 or newfieldlibrary@gmail.com.

Newfield’s annual Christmas tree lighting is Dec. 7

The town of Newfield will hold its annual Christmas tree lighting event on Dec. 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Masonic Temple on Main Street.

The Christmas tree will be lit at 6:30 p.m. The event will include music, horse-drawn carriage rides and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Food will be available at the event, including hot dogs, chili, cookies and cocoa.

For more information, contact Karen Trask at ks297@cornell.edu.