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Niskayuna committee releases corrosion-control study, recommends sodium hydroxide treatment; residents press for notifications
Summary
A new MJ Engineering corrosion-control study for the Town of Niskayuna recommends adding sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) at the water plant; the town estimates implementation at roughly $133,000 and says DOH permitting and coordination with Schenectady are next steps as residents call for direct homeowner notices.
The Town of Niskayuna’s Water, Sewer, Engineering and Environment Committee on Monday presented a corrosion-control study by MJ Engineering that recommends adjusting treatment with sodium hydroxide to reduce copper corrosion in distribution water. Chair (Town board member) said the full report will be posted publicly and that staff have begun steps toward engineering quotes and the permitting process with county and state health officials.
The chair told the room that the study included pilot tests at the Lock 7 Road plant and that an appendix estimates a system implementation cost of about $133,000. "The total cost is estimated, $133,000 and 100 and $133,000, thereabouts," the chair said. He added funding would not be an obstacle and that the town will seek quotes from engineering firms and submit permit applications to the county Department of Health.
Public commenters urged urgency and broader outreach after an attendee read a statement from an infrastructure expert claiming corrosion measurements “12 times what is acceptable” and urging immediate action and homeowner notification. Ms. Russo, speaking for that submission, said residents with young children should be informed and advised about interim steps, including drinking-bottle use, until pH control is installed. The committee clarified that the study measured corrosion potential at the treatment plant and that staff do not yet have evidence tying the plant test results directly to every home’s first-draw water; staff said further analysis and targeted sampling are required before making public-health advisories.
Town staff described next steps: solicit engineering quotes for an injection system, coordinate DOH permitting (which can take several months), continue lead-and-copper sampling in the community, and explore grant and funding options. The chair asked staff to prepare an FAQ and post the full study online to reduce confusion. "We will make the information available without any reduction," he said. Residents asked the town to notify possibly affected households once spatial sampling clarifies which homes, if any, meet the high-corrosion profile.
Implementation risk: staff flagged regulatory and operational dependencies — DOH permitting and potential coordination with the City of Schenectady where water is blended — and said they will not change plant chemistry before required approvals.
