BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Buffalo Sewer Authority celebrated the completion of Phase 1 of a major infrastructure improvement project on Monday, marking progress in addressing sewage odors that have plagued West Side neighborhoods and violated environmental regulations.
The East Delavan Sewer Improvement Project is part of the Queen City Clean Waters initiative that was announced by the Buffalo Sewer Authority in October 2024. It's a 15-year $1 billion initiative that will focus on upgrading the city's wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.
City leaders gathered at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Florida Street Monday afternoon to celebrate the completion of Phase 1 of the project, which focuses on landscaping improvements in Buffalo's Masten District.
Streets receiving landscape revitalization and tree plantings include Florida, Pleasant, Beverly, Jefferson and Hager.
"We're fixing our sewer system. Not only was the community involved in the process, but for years and years and years to come," said Zeneta Everhart, councilmember for the City of Buffalo's Masten District.
Crystal Stephan, a Buffalo cyclist who lives in the area, noticed the difference trees can make in neighborhoods.
"You can definitely notice when you go down the street, you cross over to the West Side, the difference is night and day," Stephan said. "There's just trees down there. It makes it gives you shade, even if you're not on a bike, if you're waiting for a bus, not all the buses have bus shelters."
Stephan emphasized the importance of adding more trees to this part of Buffalo.
"One of the reasons I love my street over there is there are a lot of trees," Stephan said. "It's one of the things that attracted me to the neighborhood. So I think it raises the property values. Everybody likes tree-lined streets. It's like the quintessential."
Tree planting will begin on October 15 and will start with the Florida Street location.
The project has three main goals: reduce combined sewer overflow, prevent sewage from backing up into buildings or flooding streets during heavy rain, and improve water quality in Scajaquada Creek, Hoyt Lake and Black Rock Canal.
Although this initiative was announced last October, just last month, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) filed a lawsuit against the Buffalo Sewer Authority, accusing the authority of water quality violations, permit violations and failing to meet project deadlines. The DEC said it is estimated that Buffalo’s combined sewer system contributes more than 1.4 billion gallons of combined sewage overflow to the Niagara River and its tributaries each year.
About a week later, the DEC announced that it reached an agreement with New York State Attorney General Letitia James and the Buffalo Sewer Authority to "significantly improve water quality along the Niagara River and its tributaries."
WATCH: DEC, NY AG, Buffalo Sewer Authority reach agreement to improve Niagara River water quality
According to the DEC, the agreement includes a revised Long-Term Control Plan (LTCP) that consists of both gray and green infrastructure projects being implemented at an estimated cost of $1 billion over a 15-year implementation schedule.
