Simple Fix For Village Of Greene Wastewater Treatment System 

Release Date: June 20, 2007
Release Number: 1692-064

» More Information on New York Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Not all projects to reduce flooding damages in the future require complex solutions.  Sometimes a simple fix serves just as well.

Take the three lift pump stations located in Chenango County's village of Greene. The pumps are about 20 to 25 feet deep in a manhole and are part of the wastewater treatment system that was knocked off line by the June 2006 flooding.

Before the flood, the manhole cover was on a metal collar that lifted the entry point about a foot above ground level.  During the flood, the water rose about three to four feet deep at the pump locations, knocking out the motors and threatening to compromise the entire wastewater treatment system.

Extraordinary work by village managers minimized the threats, but the village still needed a long-term solution.  In the end, another four feet of manhole collar was welded on top of the existing manhole collars.  This lifted the manhole entries about a foot above the flood of record for this area. 

When President Bush signed a major disaster declaration for New York State because of the 2006 flooding, it triggered the Public Assistance (PA) Program in Chenango County to reimburse government entities and certain non-profits for emergency protective measures and the repair of damaged public infrastructure.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides 75 percent of the grant funding. New York State funds the remaining 25 percent. The New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO) administers the PA program.

A major FEMA and SEMO goal is to mitigate, where it is cost effective, when restoring damaged infrastructure so the repaired facility is better able to withstand future disaster damages. Extra money spent now can reduce future impacts and costs.

Altogether, the FEMA and SEMO have provided about $98,000 to repair flood-affected parts of the village's wastewater treatment system.  While the elevated collars on the lift pump stations were small in cost - about $2,250 per collar - the dividends are huge.

"When it comes to wastewater," said Village of Greene Superintendent of Public Works Bob Nowalk, "you don't want to have the lift pump stations compromised.  That is where the raw waste is collected to be pumped to the treatment plant.  If the pump fails, that waste may run out into the Chenango River -the river runs right through the village.  That could result in a real health hazard and degradation of the environment. We are very pleased with the state and FEMA for all the help they have provided"

"Mitigation activities such as these are a smart way of doing business," said John R. Gibb, Director of the New York State Emergency Management Office and State Coordinating Officer. "It makes more sense to spend the money now to lessen the threat of future events." 

"This is an excellent example of an investment in improvements that will pay dividends for years to come," said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Marianne C. Jackson.

The treatment plant serves 1,700 residents who call the town and village of Greene home.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 20-Jun-2007 13:42:09