Tonawanda – Today, January 21, 2022, New York State Sen. Sean Ryan and Assemblyman Bill Conrad announced the awarding of nearly $6 million in state funding for the Town of Tonawanda and the Village of Kenmore. The grants, administered by Empire State Development, will be used to enhance sewer infrastructure in both municipalities, reducing sanitary sewer overflows and improving the water quality in Two Mile Creek.

The Town of Tonawanda will receive $5 million for the rehabilitation of sewers and manholes in various sections around the town. The Village of Kenmore will receive $960,000 to repair or replace sewer lines in Sewershed #2 and Delaware Avenue.

According to the state’s Sewage Pollution Right to Know data, for 24 hours during one rainstorm in September 2021, 50 gallons per minute of untreated sanitary sewage were discharged into Two Mile Creek due to an overflow reported on East Park Drive in the town. Two Mile Creek, a major tributary of the Niagara River, is frequently impacted by such discharges in bouts of heavy rain.

Senator Sean Ryan said, “When our sewer systems fall into disrepair, heavy amounts of rain can cause overflows that lead to raw sewage contamination of our waterways. The projects funded by these grants will shore up the sewer infrastructure in Kenmore and the Town of Tonawanda, and help clean up Two Mile Creek and the Niagara River. By reducing pollution, these sewer system improvements will not only protect the fish and wildlife that inhabit these waterways, they will also make them safer for recreational activities like fishing and swimming.”

Assemblyman Bill Conrad said, “Sanitary sewer breakages and leaks can lead to overflows and discharges, which raise the bacteria in our waterways, reducing oxygen levels and resulting in toxic algae blooms. Ultimately, these malfunctions disrupt and threaten the ecological health and enjoyability of natural assets like Two Mile Creek. On their face, sewer infrastructure projects aren’t always headline-grabbers, but here in Western New York, the Niagara River watershed is a fundamental part of our identity, and its upkeep must remain a priority. We all share a role as stewards of the environment, and as an elected official, I also have a duty to help maintain citizens’ health and quality of life. This state funding will facilitate infrastructure improvements to resolve sewage overflows and keep the water of Two Mile Creek cleaner, and therefore safer for recreational uses, and more inhabitable for the region’s native plants and animals.”

Town of Tonawanda Supervisor Joe Emminger said, “This is the third round of grant funding that we have received from the state to address our aging sewer infrastructure. The town has spent tens of millions of dollars of town taxpayer money to address this ongoing situation, and we are very thankful to Senator Ryan and Assemblyman Conrad for their continuing efforts in assisting us.”

Village of Kenmore Mayor Pat Mang said, “The village is very grateful for this funding. It will go a long way toward improving our sewer infrastructure and helping ease the impact to our taxpayers. I would also like to thank the Senator and Assemblyman for their efforts.”