Poughkeepsie's water treatment gets a $4.5 million upgrade

A multi-million dollar project will help ensure City and Town of Poughkeepsie residents continue to have safe drinking water.

That's according to the City of Poughkeepsie, which announced a $4.5 million upgrade to Poughkeepsie's water treatment facility.

The work is expected to begin in the fall and stretch two years, according to a release.

The upgrade will include a replacement of the facility's UV disinfection equipment that helps to purify water coming from the Hudson River, the city said. 

"We've spent millions of dollars on making sure the water that we take from the Hudson River is safe to drink," said Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison. "Working with other municipalities, we are taking more steps to protect the water at its source. But the plant's operation is imperative as well." 

The plant, located in the Marist College campus, is co-owned by the city and the town. The city will pay $2.5 million while the town will pay the remaining $2 million. 

"Ultraviolet water purification is our primary method for disinfecting pathogens from the water," said Randy Alstadt, administrator of the Water Treatment Facility. "This is yet another major investment in our facility, to the betterment of our drinking water system.

"The replacement is necessary because the manufacturer no longer supports the equipment," he said.

Alstadt said the new design could save the city and town $90,000 annually in electric costs. The city hired an engineering and environmental consulting firm as engineers for the project. The city is working with state partners to find grants to assist with the cost of the upgrade, according to the release.

The city and town have spent around $40 million on improvements to the facility in the past two decades, the release said.

"The town is committed to doing its part to keep the plant operating in a safe and effective manner," Poughkeepsie Town Supervisor Jon J. Baisley said. "These upgrades are part of larger commitment the town and city have made to improve the water treatment facility.”

Katelyn Cordero: kcordero@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4870; Twitter: @KatelynCordero.