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Waterfront Project Would Strain Sewage Treatment, Damage Water Quality and Thwart Future Development
Research shows smaller project or sewage treatment investment needed
Despite good management plant has 20 violations in 36 months; DEC wants technical review
(KINGSTON) - The City of Kingston's sewage treatment plant would exceed capacity during regular peak periods unless the proposed AVR Realty development is reduced in size or the plant is expanded. Expert analysis by the Friends of Kingston Waterfront (FoKW) coalition sent today to the city's planning board indicates that failing to resolve this issue would damage water quality and thwart future development opportunities.
The developer claims that the plant can handle the increased demand from its proposed 2,182-unit residential project with its additional commercial space. This is clearly refuted by FoKW's research. Sewage treatment plants typically are slated for expansion when they reach 90-percent capacity. Today Kingston's plant operates at 77 percent, but bringing on line The Landing project and Sailor's Cove, another large development proposed next door to the AVR project, would overwhelm the sewage treatment facility. The plant received 20 permit violations within the last three years, a condition that would likely get worse with the added demands from The Landing project.
Praise for plant's current operation
FoKW commended the city on addressing problems at the wastewater plant, particularly combined sewer overflows - times when heavy rain water volume comes into the system by storm drains and overwhelms the treatment facility. Several of these overflows have been eliminated, which has improved water quality in the Rondout and Hudson River.
Despite developer claims, plant can't handle waterfront project as proposed
Projections are that if The Landing and Sailor's Cove projects are built as proposed, Kingston's sewage treatment plant would be at: - 90 % capacity 87 % of the time
- 95 % capacity 41 % of the time
- 98 % capacity 30 % of the time
- 15 % of the time it would run beyond capacity and partially untreated or untreated sewage would pollute drinking water sources
These figures take on even greater significance with the knowledge that they don't include capacity needed to honor a contract the city has to serve Port Ewen or capacity required for the community of East Kingston, which AVR has promised to connect to the plant via its proposed development.
"The city has identified improvements to the sewage treatment facility as key to attracting and keeping business and tourism downtown. I live two blocks from the plant, so I see that it can barely handle the load now. How much worse will the odor and overflow get with another 6,000 people? And that's just The Landing - consider all the other development in the area that would be placing demands on the facility," said Ann Loeding, a member of FoKW.
"We have a class-act developer who wants to build along Rondout Creek and who supports redevelopment as envisioned by the community in the Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan. AVR should not be allowed to use up the remaining capacity of the plant and thereby prevent other more desirable development. Sewer and water charges have gone up almost 20 percent over the last couple of years just to keep up with current demand. Will we be asked to pay for the significant improvements needed for the treatment plant to handle the extra load from The Landing and other developments? Projects as large as The Landing should help bear these costs and be required to propose alternative wastewater treatment strategies," she added.
Ned Sullivan, president of Scenic Hudson, said, "Capacity is obviously a serious issue for sewage treatment. Playing too close to that plant's capabilities would have serious public health and environmental consequences. Capacity also is an issue for traffic, schools, fire and police and other services vital to Kingston residents. Scenic Hudson wants development on this waterfront site but the size and character of what's built there must be a benefit and not a burden for residents. The alternative development plan we and our coalition partners are preparing will be based on the facts of what this property and the community can handle. While our concept will be economically solid it also will create a livable waterfront that expresses Kingston's special character - a waterfront Kingstonians can be proud of."
Odor problems and other troubling possibilities
- Plants operating well at below 90-percent capacity typically display deficiencies when reaching greater than 90 percent.
- The Kingston plant permit is on the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) priority list, indicating that it is in the top 10 percent of permits needing a full technical review.
- As the plant nears capacity, routine maintenance or equipment failure can reduce capacity significantly. The developer fails to recognize this in its analysis.
- Recognizing that plant odors could affect waterfront redevelopment, the city conducted an odor study in 2003. Study recommendations have begun to be implemented; however, more odor control is needed. Additional odor impacts from The Landing proposal are not addressed in the environmental review and should be.
- At its present location the plant is wedged between the East Strand and the Trolley Museum and has no room for physical expansion.
"How will the wastewater treatment plant handle the sewage from The Landing and Sailors Cove, plus all the additional proposals already in the pipeline and on the drawing boards?" asked Manna Jo Greene, environmental director for Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. "The city really needs to take a hard look at the potential for cumulative effects, especially because the current facility does not have much ability to be expanded," she added.
About FoKW
FoKW was formed in spring 2005. The coalition is focused on ensuring resident participation in creating a Kingston waterfront that protects the Hudson River Valley's cherished history, culture, beauty and economic well-being. Its member organizations want to ensure that Kingston does not see its waterfront become a burden when the opportunity exists to create powerful benefits for a diverse population.
FoKW has created an informational Web site about the Kingston waterfront, www.FriendsofKingstonWaterfront.org.
Friends of Kingston Waterfront comprises Friends of Historic Kingston, Friends of Rondout, Hudson River Heritage, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Riverkeeper, Scenic Hudson, Sierra Club and Sustainable Hudson Valley.
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