New York DEC orders town to curb sewer overflows amid rehabilitation efforts

The Cheektowaga Town Board meeting on May 13, 2025, focused primarily on the town's ongoing efforts to address sanitary sewer overflows as mandated by a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) consent order. The order requires the town to significantly reduce these overflows, which occur during heavy rain and snow melt events due to the infiltration of rainwater and groundwater into the sanitary sewer system.

During the meeting, officials discussed the current state of the town's sewer infrastructure, which was largely installed between the 1920s and 1950s. The aging system, primarily composed of clay tile pipes, has been identified as a major contributor to the infiltration issues. The town has committed to rehabilitating the sewer pipes and manholes to mitigate these problems.

A significant portion of the discussion centered on the Sewer System Evaluation Survey (SSES) and the Corrective Action Plan, which outlines the tasks and deadlines for compliance with the consent order. The town has divided its sewer district into ten sewer sheds, with ongoing rehabilitation efforts funded by a $5 million Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) grant and additional bonding.

Progress has been made in rehabilitating sewer sheds 1 through 8, while work in sheds 9 and 10 is currently in progress but has faced funding challenges. The board noted that $1.34 million is still needed for manhole rehabilitation in shed 4, and an additional $1.46 million for sheds 9 and 10.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of a pilot study in sewer shed 3, which aims to identify illegal connections contributing to the infiltration issues. However, council members expressed concerns about the lack of funding for inspections and the need for detailed breakdowns of project costs to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of taxpayer money.

In conclusion, the town is actively working to comply with the DEC's requirements, but faces ongoing challenges related to funding and the aging infrastructure. The board plans to continue discussions on securing the necessary funds and ensuring that all rehabilitation efforts are effectively managed.