New Deadline For Oneida County Sewer Repairs

Utica, NY (WIBX) - The New York State Department of Enviornmental Conservation has extended the deadline for Oneida County to make mandated repairs to the Sauquoit Creek sewer line.

It's been pushed from October 31, 2014 to December 31, 2021.

"The County has worked closely with DEC staff to implement a practical resolution to correct the Sauquoit Creek Pump Station issues. The task is large and additional time is needed to ensure the work is done right and based on findings from engineering studies," said DEC Region 6 Director Judy Drabicki.

Drabicki said the repairs, estimated to cost the county between $150 and $180 million dollars, will help attract businesses and improve the quality of life for area residents.

"You can't have good economic development unless you've got the infrastructure to draw people here. Whether it's water, wasterwater or roads, this is an integral of make Oneida County and the Mohawk Valley more inviting to businesses coming here," she said, adding the quality of life improvments include a clean Mohawk River.

The issue is stormwater runoff. Officials say during large rain storms, and during snow-melt in the spring, the sewer lines become overloaded. The result is untreated sewage flowing into the Mohawk River at the Sauquoit Creek Pump Station, officials say.