More than $49 million has been approved in direct financial assistance for water infrastructure improvement projects across New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul's office announced Thursday.

The Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors' approval gives municpal access to funds in short-term financing and previously announced grants to modernize drinking water and sewer systems.

The money includes over $20 million from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2021.

The clean water projects impacted by this funding will be:

• Buffalo Sewer Authority: $13,869,533 grant for the planning, design, and construction of secondary treatment upgrades at the Bird Island Wastewater Treatment Plant.
• Town of Caneadea, Allegany County: $430,000 for the planning, design, and construction of a disinfection system at the town's wastewater treatment plant.
• Town of Hume, Allegany County: $2,448,000 short-term interest-free financing, $1,000,000 short-term market-rate financing and an $816,000 WIIA grant for the planning, design, and construction of a pump station and force main in the town.
• Town of Lyons, Wayne County: $804,655 short-term interest-free financing and $2,100,000 grant from BIL general supplemental funds, and an $804,655 WIIA grant from Environmental Bond Act funds for the planning, design, and construction of improvements to the town's wastewater treatment plant
• Village of Mount Kisco, Westchester County: $2,375,000 WIIA grant for the planning, design, and construction of improvements to the Saw Mill Pump Station and replacement of the Branch Brook Trunk Sewer.

The drinking water projects impacted by this funding will be:

• Village of Franklinville, Cattaraugus County: $1,191,800 short-term market-rate financing and a $2,850,000 WIIA grant for improvements to the village's north and south wellhouses, as well as replacement of approximately 30,000 linear feet of watermains.
• Town of Hermon, St. Lawrence County: $1,988,850 short-term interest-free financing and $1,640,650 grant from BIL general supplemental funds; $423,500 short-term interest-free financing and $847,000 short-term market-rate financing from base CWSRF, as well as a $3,000,000 WIIA grant for the development of new Spring No. 5, installation of a redundant transmission main from the springs to the water treatment plant, improvements to the water treatment plant, installation of individual water meters and replacement of all distribution mains in Water District No. 1, totaling approximately 25,000 linear feet.
• Niagara County Water District: $1,245,750 WIIA grant for the replacement of the water treatment plant's one-million-gallon wash water tank.

“New York State continues to prioritize safe, clean water for all communities and remains at the forefront of innovative water infrastructure funding solutions,” Hochul said in a statement. “These investments will advance effective infrastructure improvements that bring long-lasting benefits to more New Yorkers.”