KINGSTON– A $10 million upgrade at the City of Kingston’s Wastewater Treatment Plant has begun. The upgrade includes new aeration tank blowers and outfall system which will limit ammonia, nitrogen, and other emissions into Rondout Creek.
“The improvements at the Wastewater Treatment Plant is a two-part project – first, rebuilding the outfall will limit the ammonia and nitrogen that the plant emits into the Rondout Creek to prevent dead zones that could be caused by outflow and will create an overall healthier habitat. And with the installation of new blowers in the aeration tanks, we will reduce our energy at an estimated 417,000 kwh per year, a 33 percent savings,” said Mayor Steven Noble. “Not only are we making environmental improvements, we are also achieving our climate goals by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and electricity usage.”
The mayor said the plant is the biggest energy draw in all of the City of Kingston government operations, “so we are excited to kick off this project and begin to save resources for all.”
The Wastewater Treatment Plant work is being done to meet state Department of Conservation requirements and is anticipated to cost a total of $10.3 million with a 10.42 percent contribution from the Town of Esopus. The City of Kingston was awarded $2.25 million in State Water Infrastructure Improvement grants. The balance will be financed under a no-interest hardship loan from the New York Environmental Facilities Corporation.
As part of rebuilding the outfall, the Rondout Creek bulkhead adjacent to the WWTP will also be repaired.
More info at https://engagekingston.com/wwtp-upgrades
