Clock ticking on Canandaigua, N.Y., plan to remove toxic chemicals from water

(UI) — Canandaigua, N.Y., officials are urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to sign off on funding needed to begin critical upgrades to the city’s drinking water system. U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer is now calling on the agency to “cut red tape” and prevent delays that could jeopardize public health and halt the project.

The city secured $1.75 million in federal funding last year to install new aeration systems in its three water storage tanks to help remove disinfection by-product (DBP) chemicals, which have been linked to liver and kidney damage and cancer.

However, the project remains stalled. Schumer said the city has had its paperwork ready for months but the EPA has yet to approve the final agreement. Without approval in the next 30 days, Canandaigua will miss its fall construction window.

“Every family and resident from Canandaigua to Walworth deserves access to clean and safe drinking water,” Schumer said. “The EPA’s delay risks both public health and local jobs. They need to act now.”

Disinfection by-products, formed when disinfectants react with naturally occurring substances in water, were recently detected at levels exceeding EPA limits in water systems supplied by Canandaigua.

The $1.75 million Schumer secured through the fiscal year 2024 appropriations process will fund aerators and mixers that will help eliminate the harmful DBPs.

Canandaigua City Manager John Goodwin said the funding is critical for maintaining safe drinking water for residents across Ontario and Wayne counties.

“This will ensure the city continues to provide high-quality and safe water, not just to city residents but towns across the region,” Goodwin said.

Schumer warned that any further delay from the EPA risks derailing the project and putting the health of more than 40,000 people in jeopardy. He urged the agency to approve the grant agreement immediately.

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