Buffalo Sewer Authority Unveils “Queen City Clean Waters”
$1 billion initiative to reduce water pollution & strengthen historically disinvested communities
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 plus 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 Buffalo Sewer, 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 and stormwater infrastructure will reduce the overflows of combined stormwater and wastewater into the environment 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 overflows. These discharges are the result of the historical design of the city’s wastewater system, which was originally intended to prevent basement and street 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, Cazenovia Creek, and the Buffalo River, 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 a much needed investment in the city’s wastewater and stormwater systems,” said City of Buffalo Acting Mayor Christopher P. Scanlon. “The inclusive and equitable approach of this $1 billion infrastructure investment initiative is a priority of my administration, and we’ll be working closely with BSA to make certain that it results in tangible health and economic benefits for our underserved populations.”
The Queen City Clean Waters initiative includes a collaborative stakeholder engagement process that will be overseen by a Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC). The SAC 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. It will also help to identify ways in which this major infrastructure investment can create sustainable multi-generational wealth in these neighborhoods. The SAC 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 Jedlicka, Executive Director of Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper whose organization is a member of the SAC said, “Our organization has been monitoring our waterways and advocating for clean water for 35 years, sharing the goals of Buffalo Sewer to seek ways to eliminate harmful pollution caused by sewer overflows and to protect public health and our ecosystems. We are in support of these renewed efforts to direct significant investment into the region’s wastewater infrastructure systems, while at the same time prioritizing communities and natural resources that have been burdened with a disproportionate amount of pollution for generations. We are looking forward to continuing our productive relationship with Buffalo Sewer and the City of Buffalo while ensuring diverse perspectives and voices are included as part of these efforts.”
In addition to the SAC, 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, Buffalo Sewer’s 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.”
Beginning today and continuing throughout the duration of the initiative, Buffalo Sewer 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. For those unable to attend, video of the event will be posted to Buffalo Sewer’s website at: www.buffalosewer.org