New York State Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez was in Hamlin on October 24 for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of the Lakeshore Septic Sewer project in Hamlin. The project was awarded nearly $7.9 million in grant funding through the State’s Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative.
In 2019, Lake Ontario saw record high water levels resulting in devastating flooding in communities that call the lakeshore home. These events forced emergency road closures, caused degradation of public infrastructure, inundations and disruptions of septic systems, and restricted public use of popular tourist destinations, which negatively impacted public safety and local economies.
Residents along the Hamlin lakeshore depend on on-site sewage disposal systems, or leach field systems. During periods of flooding these systems are rendered ineffective and pose a potential risk of contamination to Lake Ontario. To mitigate health risks to users and negative impacts to the environment, this project included the construction of a new public wastewater collection system. The town of Hamlin installed 60,000 linear feet of sanitary sewer force main and associated appurtenances (including individual grinder pump stations), which connected over 290 homes along Lake Ontario to a public sanitary sewer system and ultimately to the Monroe County Northwest Quadrant Wastewater Treatment Facility for treatment and disposal.
Hamlin Town Supervisor Steve Baase said, “The Lakeshore Septic Sewer project was a big haul made easier by the partnership with New York State and with the help of the REDI Team. The new infrastructure will be stronger and more reliable during times of flooding, which is critical to the health and wellbeing of our residences along the lake’s shoreline.”
“I’m glad to see the completion of this REDI project in Hamlin,” said Assemblymember Stephen Hawley. “I’ve seen firsthand the damage caused by flooding in the region and the public health issues it creates. These upgrades to the sewage disposal systems were much needed and will go a long way toward protecting our community.”
A similar event was held in Webster later in the day to mark the completion of projects that involved: raising and realigning approximately 2,000 linear feet of Lake Road and installing a closed drainage system with outlets to Irondequoit Bay; installation of a masonry flood wall and living shoreline embankment stabilization in Sandbar Park; and a new masonry flood wall constructed around the Sandbar Wastewater Pump Station to keep water from directly flowing into the building and damaging electrical and mechanical equipment.
New York State Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez said, “The Towns of Hamlin and Webster experienced significant flooding in 2019 that caused tremendous damage to their vital shorelines and public infrastructure. Through these completed projects funded through the State’s REDI program, we have not only repaired this damage, but we’ve built back these lakefront communities better and more resilient than they were before.”
In response to the extended pattern of flooding along the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, New York State established REDI to increase the resilience of shoreline communities and bolster economic development in the region. Through REDI, the State has committed up to $300 million, to benefit communities and improve resiliency in regions along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.
Since the creation of the State’s REDI program in the Spring of 2019, 134 REDI funded local and regional projects are underway, including 28 projects in the design phase, 30 projects in the construction phase, and 76 projects completed.
