Fairfield authority wins $577,000 state grant and seeks $1 million federal project funds for water repairs

Council President Patricia Smith told Fairfield Borough Council on Feb. 24 that the Municipal Authority has received a Local Shares grant for 2025 totaling $577,000 to repair water leaks on North Miller Street and has a 2026 Local Shares award to replace the force main and to replace the lift station.

Smith said the authority also believes it has been approved to receive $1,000,000 from the Community Project Fund, a federal appropriation that is awaiting the president’s signature. "This will replace almost all the water line on Carroll’s Tract Road," Smith said, describing the planned scope of work.

Why it matters: the grants would fund major water-infrastructure repairs in Fairfield, including localized leak repairs and a larger force-main and lift-station replacement project. Council members discussed the awards as part of liaison reports; no formal vote or appropriation by council was recorded at the meeting.

Details and next steps: Smith identified the specific project targets as N. Miller Street leak repairs and an extensive replacement on Carroll’s Tract Road. The 2026 Local Shares award is tied to a force-main replacement and to replacement of the lift station; the reported Community Project Fund amount is contingent on federal approval and an executive signature. Council did not act on funding allocations at the Feb. 24 meeting; the Municipal Authority will proceed with design and contracting steps only after funding and procedural approvals are finalized.

Community context: council members noted the Municipal Authority’s work in the context of other local projects and upcoming meetings; the Borough will continue to receive updates from the authority. The liaison report did not list a firm timeline for construction or a project budget beyond the cited grant awards.