NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — The series of highly-publicized sewage discharges into the water below Niagara Falls have put the city in the spotlight for reasons it would rather avoid. Two state lawmakers from the area asking why the Niagara Falls Water Board is yet to apply for available state funds to help alleviate the problems.

"Let's come up with a plan. Let's solve it. The money's there. We've done our part," said State Sen. Rob Orrt, North Tonawanda. "We stand ready to help them going forward to secure these funds to improve the infrastructure and protect the health of the people of Niagara Falls, the health of one our greatest assets and natural resources and also protect our brand."

The Niagara Falls Water Board blamed the first incident on July 29 on human error. Since then however, there've been at least five more instances of sewage overflowing into the river. Officials have attributed those to the system's aging infrastructure, particularly at the wastewater treatment plant.  

Ortt and Assemblyman Angelo Morinello say there's money available to fix the problems — $2.5 billion is allocated in the state budget for water quality and infrastructure upgrades. But they want to know why the water board hasn't applied yet.

"Let's fill out the application and access that portion of the (money) that will assist in the funding of the rebuilding of the plant," Morinello said.

The Water Board in a statement says it's working on formal proposals for the funding, but taking time to study the problems to avoid wasting taxpayer dollars. One of the board members, Colleen Larkin, appointed by Ortt, echoed those thoughts.

"It is something that is being taken seriously. Nobody is taking this lightly," Larkin said. "People do want to see the improvements. We have the immediate situation. There's also looking to the long run too.  What is in the best interest going forward?"

Pat Proctor of Rainbow Air Inc. saw the problems from the start.  He was in his helicopter, which takes visitors on tours over the Falls, capturing images of the July 29 discharge incident.

"No pun intended, but the black eye has already been delivered," Proctor said. "It traveled around the world so fast, and it doesn't take a genius to figure out there's something wrong when social media gets a hold of it."

As chairman of the Niagara Falls Tourism Advisory Board, Proctor wants to see a solution.  He hopes to avoid the lasting effects these issues could have on businesses like his that rely heavily on the public perception from out of town visitors.

Any negative for us is no good period. We're trying to rebuild the area," Proctor said. "They rebuilt Buffalo and now we're trying to do the same thing here.  It doesn't help at all."