Poughkeepsie... Dutchess County Executive William R. Steinhaus and DC Water and Wastewater Authority Chairman Thomas LeGrand announced today that all pipe for the 13 mile Central Dutchess Water Transmission Line (CDWTL) is in place. Testing, flushing and disinfection have begun for the 24 inch ductile iron line that is anticipated to be in service by this fall. The CDWTL will link the Poughkeepsie City/Town Water System and its Hudson River tap to the towns of LaGrange, Wappinger and East Fishkill including the $2.6 Billion IBM chip fabrication facility at the Hudson Valley Research Park on Rt. 52 in Wiccopee.
County Executive Steinhaus noted, “Eight years ago we had a vision for developing this critical infrastructure which is so important to our future. Our collaborative and determined efforts with the State, local municipalities, IBM and the Authority has turned the vision into reality. Reliable clean water is critical to supporting existing communities and future job development. This line will do both, with benefits to the entire County for generations to come.”
The pipeline will have the capacity to carry up to 10 million gallons of water per day. Initially IBM has contracted to purchase 2 million gallons per day. Local municipalities have already requested to connect community and neighborhood systems to the line. Water from the line is also being made available for fire fighting purposes via hydrants at intersections along the route that can be used to fill tanker trucks.
The 13 mile pipeline has been constructed on much of the route of the former Maybrook rail corridor from Overocker Road in Poughkeepsie to the vicinity of Hopewell Junction. From Hopewell Junction, it follows County Route 31 (Palen Road) to NYS Rt. 52 and the IBM complex.
As with the pipeline, County Executive Steinhaus is spearheading efforts to construct the Dutchess Rail Trail in the same corridor starting at Morgan Lake in Poughkeepsie and extending to Hopewell Junction. This effort is being coordinated with the waterline construction. Design of the trail has begun with construction scheduled to begin twelve months from now in the spring of 2007.
Construction funding for the $33.25 water project is divided among four entities with IBM contributing $11.375 million, $11.25 million from New York State secured by the County Executive, the County contributing $10.375 million, and East Fishkill contributing approximately $250,000. “Anytime we can put major infrastructure in place that will benefit the County for generations to come and convince funding partners to provide 2/3 of the cost, we have a formula for success,” said Executive Steinhaus.
Chairman LeGrand noted, “While many important tasks remain to be completed, we are pleased to have reached this milestone in the construction that began last spring. Placing 13 miles of piping in the ground in approximately one year and staying within budget is an accomplishment the Authority is proud of.”
Anne Conroy, President and CEO of the Dutchess County Economic Development Corporation noted the economic impact, while East Fishkill Supervisor John Hickman added the benefits for the town’s water reliability.
“Years from now when we look back... this water line will be regarded as one of the most significant,” concluded the County Executive.