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Home > Leadership > Mayor > Archive Press Releases > 2006 Archives > April 2006 > MultiMillion Dollar Improvements Announced For Buffalo's Water Treatment Fa

Multi-Million Dollar Improvements Announced For Buffalo's Water Treatment Facility


Source/Contact
Office of the Mayor
Peter K. Cutler
Director of Communications
716-851-4841

Capital Project will make 81- year old facility "State of the Art"

BUFFALO—Mayor Byron Brown, Public Works Commissioner Joseph Giambra and representatives of American Water today broke ground on a major renovation project for the Colonel Ward Treatment Complex located at the foot of Porter Avenue.  The project, which will bring the 81-year old facility up to date, will cost approximately $20 million to complete.

"This plant was built in 1925, and it has served the City of Buffalo well," said Mayor Brown.  "Emerging technology is making it possible for us to bring this plant up to date, which will make it more efficient and safer for the future."

This project is the single most important ever undertaken by American Water and the City of Buffalo Division of Water.  The upgrade to the facility will take place over a three-year period, while maintaining uninterrupted day-to-day water treatment operations. 

The city will install new HVAC equipment and improving the existing ventilation in the plant.  The project will physically separate the existing area into three zones: the air above the filters will be circulated with the outside air; however, minimal heat will be provided, the operator area will be comfortably heated, and the air in the lower gallery will be dehumidified.  This will optimize energy efficiency and provide an environment that will maximize the useful life of all equipment installed.

This represents the largest capital improvement project in the history of the Division of Water, which allows full operational control for our filters both locally and remotely.  This is accomplished through the installation of 240 new butterfly valves including electric actuators and a new SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) will be installed.  This improved control will allow for improved water treatment and allow staff to operate more efficiently lowering energy costs and saving money.

 "The improvement will not only make it possible to meet current and future operating requirements, but will also improve the efficiency and operating environment for the water treatment operators," said Commissioner Giambra.  "This is the largest project in the history of the Buffalo Water system, and the upgrade will ensure the safety of the water in Buffalo for years to come."

"I am confident the transition will be smooth.  I can assure you that the historic brick building we are all used to seeing will not change, and the level of service will also not change," Mayor Brown concluded.
 
The $20 million for the renovations comes from the New York State Revolving Loan Fund.