MakingWaves - News From the Division of Water

In This Issue:

• Northern Border Regional Commission Funding Opportunity
• “Create a Watershed Super Hero” Poster Contest Winners Announced
• Reminder: Clean Watershed Needs Survey
• Deadline Approaches to Apply for Water Well Contractor Program
• FOG Abatement Training
• World Water Day--March 22
• Final CWSRF Intended use Plan and Hardship Policy

Northern Border Regional Commission Funding Opportunity

The application period is now open for the State Economic & Infrastructure Development Investment Program (SEID) offered through the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC). NBRC's mission is to fund economic development and infrastructure projects throughout designated counties in Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. The counties in New York are: Cayuga, Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Montgomery, Niagara, Oneida, Orleans, Oswego, Rensselaer, St. Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Seneca, Sullivan, Warren, Washington, Wayne and Yates.

Required letters of interest are due April 22 by 5:00 p.m. Go to NNRBC's website for more information.

Create a Watershed Super Hero” Poster Contest Winners Announced

DEC and the New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA) are pleased to announce the 2021-2022 winners of the annual Create a Watershed Super Hero Poster Contest for middle school students. The 14 winning posters will be featured in DEC and NYWEA’s 2023 Annual Calendar. This year’s top winner (poster pictured) is Sudan Belnavis, from Valley Stream South High School in Valley Stream, NY.

Reminder: Clean Watershed Needs Survey

The Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) has launched the 2022 Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS) for New York State. As required by law, New York participates in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s national survey to assess the capital investment needed for water quality infrastructure. Participation by all communities is critical to ensure New York State continues to receive a high level of federal funding to support water quality infrastructure projects across the state through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.

Local governments and other eligible recipients are asked to submit documentation about their anticipated water quality infrastructure project needs. This documentation may include information that municipalities already have available to show estimated costs for needed infrastructure repairs and upgrades. Resources and instructions for participating in the survey are available on EFC's website. Contact EFC at 518-402-6924 or nyscwns@efc.ny.gov with questions and register for the 2022 CWNS: What You Need to Know webinar to be held on March 29 at 11 a.m.

Deadline Approaches to Apply for Water Well Contractor Program

DEC's Water Well Contractor Program is currently accepting applications for the Certificate of Registration for the period April 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023. The application and payment may be completed online.

Registration is required by March 31 each year for all water well contractors who drill or repair water wells in New York State. The on-site contractor must be certified for the work that they are conducting (well drilling and/or pump installation). A Preliminary Notice must be filed prior to drilling a well and a Water Well Completion Report must be filed upon completion of water well drilling.

For additional information, contact Water Well Program staff at 877-472-2619 or NYSWaterWells@dec.ny.gov.

FOG Abatement Training

On March 30, the Western States Alliance, a project of the Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC), is offering technical training on fats, oils and greases (FOG) abatement in wastewater systems. The training will be held in Syracuse, NY, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will be conducted in a workshop format. The training is especially for water treatment professionals from small, rural communities that do not have a FOG abatement program or a pretreatment program, or that find their current program inadequate.

PPRC has received grant funding from the USDA Rural Utilities Service to provide technical training and assistance to small, rural communities in FOG abatement.  Learn more and register online. 

World Water Day--March 22

The theme of World Water Day 2022 is Groundwater--Making the Invisible Visible. Groundwater is invisible under our feet, but its impact is visible in our lives. Almost all of the liquid freshwater in the world is groundwater. 

Everyone has a role in protecting and conserving water. In addition to avoiding waste and using water wisely, it’s important to help keep our water clean. What you do at your home and in your community affects everyone downstream of you.

Final CWSRF Intended use Plan and Hardship Policy

The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) and DEC have announced that Final Amendment No. 1 for the Federal Fiscal Year 2022 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Final Intended Use Plan, effective October 1, 2021 and revised Hardship Policy, effective March 16, 2022, are now available on EFC's website.