Orange County updates design, financing and public‑participation plan for Harriman wastewater upgrade

Consultants and county staff told the Orange County Sewer District No. 1 Advisory Committee on Tuesday that the Harriman wastewater treatment plant upgrade is on schedule for a 60% design milestone, is advancing multiple financing applications and will begin an enhanced public‑participation program required by the state permit process.

The design team said the project has an average daily flow capacity planned at 9,000,000 gallons per day and a much higher peak hydraulic flow the system must be sized to accept. County staff said the project currently qualifies for significant federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) assistance and that a state‑required enhanced public participation plan (EPP) will be submitted to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for review.

Why it matters: the county is seeking to replace its current 6 MGD facility with a new plant to serve the same service area; financing, design choices and the state permit process will shape the timetable, costs and public outreach for construction and operation.

Mary Beth Bianconi, partner at Delaware Engineering DPC, told the committee the technical working group met after the last advisory meeting and that the team…