Sewage Collection System Improvements Will Prevent Future Damage and Safeguard Public Health

 $103,000 Awarded to the Village to Reconstruct Real Street Seawall; Promote Safety of Residents and Visitors

 Part of State’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the completion of two of seven projects awarded to the Village of Cape Vincent, Jefferson County, through the State’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI). During the high-water flood events that took place in the summer of 2017 and again in 2019, the Market Street sanitary sewer system was subjected to increased external water pressure, which ultimately led to sewage backups in local residences and businesses. The REDI Commission awarded the village $705,000 to upgrade the sewage collection system, which will prevent sewer backups in basements, prevent damage to the lift station pumps, and reduce increased pumping and treatment costs incurred by the village.  

“Through the REDI program, New York is mitigating the impacts of our changing climate and protecting the communities along the shoreline of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River,” said New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner and REDI Commission Co-Chair Basil Seggos said. “DEC is proud to have worked with the village of Cape Vincent to advance the Market Street Sewer and Real Street Wall projects. By making strategic investments the State is proactively improving vulnerable infrastructure to safeguard New Yorkers and community assets from future high-water events.”

Project improvements included replacing and rerouting sanitary sewer mains along Market and Gouvello streets and replacing existing manholes with new watertight manholes. Additionally, mitigation measures included installing a new eight-inch-diameter sanitary sewer main along Market Street and connecting to a new watertight manhole at the intersection of Market and Gouvello streets. The improved sanitary sewer will flow northeast along Gouvello Street in a new 12-inch sanitary sewer main and route through three new manholes to an existing pump station between Point and James streets. This rerouting of the sanitary sewer along Market Street and the larger sanitary sewer main along Gouvello Street will allow the existing flood-vulnerable sanitary sewer between Market and Point streets to be abandoned. The existing pump station's six-inch force main was integrally interconnected to the existing 10-inch force main to alleviate surcharges in the downstream pipes and eliminate overflows at the downstream manhole. Lawns, asphalt roadway, and concrete sidewalks were restored in the disturbed site.

Commissioner Seggos also announced today the completion of the Real Street seawall reconstruction project. Due to the structure’s location directly on the St. Lawrence River, the Real Street seawall suffered extensive damage due to high-water events. Flooding coupled with intense wave action scoured the wall, leaving the bedding stone displaced, and the wall blocks uneven and unstable. Support materials behind the wall were washed away by storm action leaving the top of the wall system tilted back into the shoreline, presenting a safety hazard for residents and visitors to the Village. The REDI Commission awarded the village $103,000 to reconstruct and raise the seawall. The wall was rebuilt using stacked limestone rock and new bedding stone. An apron of quarry stone was constructed behind the seawall.

Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez said, “As part of our commitment to make the Lake Ontario shoreline more resilient, we continue to make critical investments to vital infrastructure. The New York State Department of State continues to work collaboratively with the REDI Program and sister agencies to improve critical sewer infrastructure and other activities that will make this waterfront more robust and able to withstand potential high-water events in the future.” 

Senator Patty Ritchie said, “By investing in critical infrastructure, we are helping to set the foundation for continued growth in the Village of Cape Vincent. I am pleased to see the completion of the Market Street Sewer Project and Real Street Seawall improvements—two key enhancements that will help businesses grow, better protect Cape Vincent from future high-water events, improve quality of life and boost tourism in this beautiful part of the Thousand Islands region.”

Assemblyman Mark Walczyk said, "Keeping wastewater out of our beautiful lake is a key task in building a more resilient and sustainable shoreline. The completion of the Real Street Seawall and Market Street Sewer projects is a win for the Village of Cape Vincent, Lake Ontario's ecosystem, and our community members."

Cape Vincent Mayor Jerry Golden said, “The village of Cape Vincent is thankful for the partnership with New York State and for the support of Governor Hochul and the REDI Commission, as critical flood resiliency projects continue to reach important milestones. The completion of the Real Street Seawall and the Market Street Sewer projects will benefit not only the residents of the Village, but also the many people that visit our region from across the State.”

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. Five REDI Regional Planning Committees, comprised of representatives from eight counties (Niagara and Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga and Oswego, and Jefferson and St. Lawrence) were established to identify local priorities, at-risk infrastructure and other assets, and public safety concerns. Through REDI, the State has committed up to $300 million, to benefit communities and improve resiliency in flood prone regions along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

For additional information, project profiles, and REDI news, click here.