Middletown - Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) recently joined Middletown Mayor Joe DeStefano, Commissioner of Public Works Jacob Tawil and other local officials for the City of Middletown Water Treatment Plant ribbon cutting ceremony. Hinchey used his position on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior Appropriations to secure $800,000 for the plant in 2009. The federal funds helped reduce the cost of the major capital investment and limit water rate increases for residents and businesses in the City of Middletown.
"The aging water treatment infrastructure in the City of Middletown has required significant investment for repairs and upgrades, and I am very pleased to support Middletown in its diligent efforts to revitalize infrastructure throughout the City," said Hinchey. "Today, residents and businesses can take comfort in knowing that their drinking water will be reliable, safe and clean for many decades to come. To support the City’s efforts to upgrade its drinking water plant, I was able to secure $800,000 in federal funding for this project to reduce the burden on local ratepayers and ensure the City has the necessary infrastructure to support the continued economic development and growth of this community."
The old water treatment plant, constructed in the early 1920s, had reached the end of its service life and needed to be replaced to meet drinking water standards under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines. The new $20 million water treatment facility will ensure that the City meets or exceeds all drinking water quality standards and increases the total service capacity of the water system. The new plant also incorporates state-of-the-art treatment technologies, including Ultraviolet (UV) reactors for disinfection. The completion of the plant is part of a comprehensive plan that involves the upgrade of sanitary sewer lines, replacement of drinking water transmission mains and construction of a brand new wastewater treatment plant, which is expected to be completed next year.
