NEW BERLIN, N.Y. - The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) has approved a $2 million grant to the Town of New Berlin to replace individual septic systems with a centralized sewage collection system for roughly 120 users on or near Chenango Lake.

In addition to the $2 million grant, the Town is also eligible for more than $2.4 million in interest-free financing from EFC.

"EFC is the arm of New York State government that helps smaller communities like New Berlin to finance major investments in their wastewater infrastructure," said EFC President and CEO Matthew Driscoll. "With this grant and the possibility of no-interest financing, the town can bring Chenango Lake back to life; making it a cleaner and more-attractive asset to the community."

Town Supervisor Ross Iannello said, "The Town Board's role in this project is to provide an affordable project to the lake area. More importantly, it is to also provide the opportunity to avoid pollution to the lake that, in the future, will be more costly to clean up at greater cost to the property owners around the lake. The Town Board would like to thank Environmental Facilities Corporation for its cooperation in bringing the project to this point."

Robert DeClue, District Planner of the Chenango County Soil & Water Conservation District, indicated that this project will help the community meet nitrogen reduction standards required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "In addition," DeClue said, "since this is a surface-water source that augments the City of Norwich's municipal water supply, protecting the quality of New Berlin's water is of great advantage."

Under this project, residents of West Shore Road, County Rt. 31, Sheff Road, Humphrey Road, Tower Lane and North Shore Road would be connected to a new collection system that would discharge into the treatment system operated by the City of Norwich.

EFC manages the largest State Revolving Fund for Clean Water and Drinking Water projects in the nation. Together, these State Revolving Funds have provided more than $15 billion in low-cost financing and grants for water-quality infrastructure across New York State.

With its Triple-A credit rating, EFC has financed more than 1,550 wastewater project totaling over $12.5 billion. EFC reduces the cost of these loans by offering a 50 percent interest-rate subsidy for wastewater projects and a 33.3 percent interest rate subsidy for Drinking Water projects. Together, these subsidies have saved local governments more than $2.2 billion.