Press Releases

Between FY 2024 and FY 2025, Congressman Mike Lawler has returned over $21 million for clean water in 12 separate municipalities, with 14 projects in total receiving funding.

Today, Congressman Mike Lawler released the following statement after securing an additional $7,983,200 in Community Project Funding for clean water projects across NY-17, building on the $13,487,000 secured in last year’s appropriations process. In the New York State Assembly, Congressman Lawler supported the NYS Environmental Bond Act, which included a minimum of $650 million in funding for clean water projects across the state. In addition, both in Congress and in the State Legislature, Congressman Lawler supported legislation to tackle PFAS contamination.

“I’m thrilled to announce that we have secured over $21 million in Community Project Funding for clean water projects across NY-17,” said Congressman Lawler (NY-17). “With projects being funded in all 4 counties encompassing NY-17, I’m proud of the work we’ve been able to do to meet critical needs in our community.”

“Between this strong funding for clean water, my work to prevent the dumping of radioactive wastewater from the now decommissioned Indian Point, and my legislative record, which includes the passage of legislation designed to mitigate PFAS and other forever chemicals in our waterways, I have been a fierce advocate for Hudson Valley families in Congress,” concluded Congressman Lawler (NY-17). “I will continue to build on my bipartisan track record on this front and others, to secure additional victories for our community.”

The $7,983,200 in Community Project Funding passed the House in late July and will go towards the following projects:

Westchester Pleasantville Water District Storage Tank Replacement/Rehabilitation Project

Amount: $2,250,000

The funding will be used to mitigate risks attached to their leaking North and South Water Storage Tanks. Both 1-million-gallon water storage tanks are housed within the Millwood Water Treatment Plant approximately 3 miles north of the Village and services the entire Pleasantville Water District and approximately 2,000 residents in the Town of Mount Pleasant. Over the course of their 90-year history, both storage tanks have been exposed to natural deterioration, which has led to their useful life cycles coming to an end.

The funding for the proposed Water Tank Improvement project will replace both of the Village’s North and South water tanks, which will significantly reduce the tax burden placed on residents.

Carmel Water District II Water Plant Upgrade and Rehabilitation Project

Amount: $1,250,000

The funding will be used to repair/replace a 60-year-old facility and associated equipment to meet federal and state requirements of PFOAs. Beyond safeguarding public health, it will also have far reaching positive effects on various institutions and businesses in downtown Carmel, including the Putnam Hospital, and Carmel High School.

Hallocks Mill Sewer District Extension Project

Amount: $1,250,000

The funding will provide public sewer service to neighborhoods presently serviced by residential septic systems. The properties served by septic systems have generally been installed on small lots with steep slopes and environmental constraints, which are not ideal for septic system performance.

The project will dramatically improve and enhance the water quality of Sparkle Lake, a major recreational resource for town residents, as well as the Croton Reservoir, which provides drinking water for millions of residents in the metropolitan area.

Croton Falls Sewer Project

Amount: $1,250,000

The project will install sewers in the Hamlet of Croton Falls’ General Business district to replace existing septic and cesspools. The Hamlet is struggling because some of its businesses, especially all of the restaurants which have mixed use with residential apartments over them, are on older septic tanks that cannot be upgraded due to a lack of space. To allow the Hamlet to take advantage of its assets and begin to realize the potential of the community, Croton Falls needs sewers.

Downtown Water Main Lining Project

Amount: $983,200

The funding will support a multi-phase project to address hydraulic inefficiencies in the downtown area; the Village of Sleepy Hollow will reline and replace approximately 1,980 linear feet of existing 8” water main line along a portion of Cortlandt Street and College Avenue. The current downtown water system is over 100 years old. The inner village neighborhoods bordering the downtown area represent the Village’s largest number of public housing units, low-income housing, low-income senior housing, and middle-income housing.

This corridor is a critical aspect of public health and safety, connectivity and multi-modal transportation, affordable housing, resilient infrastructure, and overall economic investment. The project will provide immediate remediation and resiliency to infrastructure that otherwise poses a water quality and economic risk to the community, particularly its most vulnerable residents. This risk is further exacerbated when considering that low water pressure is affecting our fire department’s ability to suppress fires.

The severe need for this project and its benefit to our diverse population is evident. A result of improved public safety and welfare, this project will also foster economic investment and create additional employment opportunities for the local skilled workforce while remediating the deficient water infrastructure within a critical municipal corridor for an area with about 87% low-income residents.

North State Road Water Main Replacement Initiative

Amount: $1,000,000

The funding will upgrade the community's water distribution system on North State Road, an area that has a history of water main breaks, including 14 incidents over the last 5 years, that has exposed the general public to health risks and requires expensive repairs.

The project will improve the Town’s water distribution system as a part of a larger initiative to replace all aged cast iron water mains, significantly reducing the likelihood of water main breaks in a historically problematic area. It will also positively impact all 37,764 users in the service area. Overall, the North State Road water main breaks between 1-5 times/year, resulting in costly repairs that ultimately fall on taxpayers, and the successful receipt of CPF funding eliminates both the existing health risks and local tax burdens.

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of the 118th Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.