Rochester Sierra Club Blog

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Rochester Group Receives Grant to Study Water Authority Expansion Plans
New $140 million water treatment plant planned for Webster

by Hugh Mitchell

The Monroe County Water Authority (MCWA) is planning to construct a large, very expensive new water treatment plant in Webster. It will handle 50 million gallons per day (mgd) initially, and will eventually move up to handling 150 mgd when fully built out. The cost of this development is estimated by MCWA to run between $140 to $150 million. Jim Smith, Director and Dick Metzger, Project Engineer have given several selective presentations about their plans. But the Sierra Club feels such a major change in our regional water systems deserves fuller public airing before it is approved, particularly because of MCWA’s history as one of the most important utilities to lay the foundation for sprawl development in Monroe County. (See Sierra Club paper: Sprawl Follows the Pipes - 2000) We need to ask “Why?” Why is such a large expansion of the piping system needed when population is not expanding and economic growth has been slow? Further, what will be the effect of the new plant on the Rochester City Water System, particularly on the water sharing contract which expires in 2008?

In order to find answers and to initiate public discussion the Rochester Regional Group has applied to the Chapter Conservation Program and has received an $800 grant to fund research on the MCWA project. We intend to hire investigative reporter Jack Bradigan Spula to produce this study, as he did with our paper on the dangerous toxic wastes remaining at Air Force Plant 51 on Dewey Avenue. (See: Deeply Planted - 2004). Once the paper is complete we would like to hold one or more public hearings in Webster and possibly elsewhere.

If you are interested in helping with this important investigation please call our Sierra Club number and volunteer to join the Webster Water Treatment Committee. (585) 244-2625.

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