Wastewater Treatment

Sewer service supports high-water businesses like restaurants and hotels as well as housing. More can be built on land when septic systems are not needed.

The Need for Sewer

Hyde Park's commercial district does not have a sewer system; each business or plaza operates its own septic system.  Sewer service would allow commercial sites to be expanded or redeveloped with a greater intensity of business and residential use.  This would expand the commercial tax base, create jobs and provide more shopping and dining options.

The essential elements to create a sewer system are:  a data-based plan, funding to support construction, and agreement of the district ratepayers.  The Town Board is working on the plan and the funding so the ratepayers can decide if they're ready for this investment.

Developing a Plan

The Hyde Park Town Board obtained a grant from NYSERDA to create a plan and engineering report for a sewer system for the town center.  (Learn more on the Planning page.)  The town convened a steering committee of agencies, landowners, business people and community members, which has been meeting regularly with professional consultants from Delaware Engineering.  The engineers have produced a draft feasibility study that analyzes three options.  For each option, it defines the properties to be served, collection system, treatment technology and budget for installation and operation.  The Town Board will be working with property owners to analyze the options.

Experts from Delaware Engineering are customizing a sewer system for Hyde Park's needs.

Gathering funding

A sewer district will be formed covering the properties served by the sewer system.  The district would pay for the construction of the sewer pipes and treatment plant through long-term borrowing (bonding). 

If property owners had to bear the full cost, the annual payment for each property owner, in the form of a sewer district tax, would be too high.  The Town Board is working to obtain outside funds to cover a large portion of the construction costs so that the amount the district must bond is affordable to the property owners.

Progress on funding so far:

- Partnership for Manageable Growth:  Dutchess County committed $500,000 toward a Hyde Park sewer system in 2015 through the Partnership for Manageable Growth program.  

- Bellefield contribution:  The proposed Bellefield project across from the Culinary Institute has committed to contributing $1.25 million toward construction of a sewer system for the town center area.

- NYS Empire State Development program:  The Town Board submitted an application based on economic development goals.  The proposal was named a 2017 "priority project" by the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council.  The governor awarded $1.5 million to the project.

- NYS State & Municipal Facilities program:  With the help of Senator Sue Serino, the Town is in line for $2 million for sewer construction costs through the NYS State & Municipal Facilities program.

Regional Honor:  The Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council named Hyde Park's sewer one of its Priority Projects for 2017, resulting in an award of $1.5 million from New York State.  The Council noted:  "With 500,000+ visitors per year who come to Hyde Park to experience the Culinary Institute of America and federal and state historic sites, a revitalized Hyde Park downtown has the potential to be a major regional economic resource."

See: Priority Project listing from REDC 2017 Report

County Executive Molinaro awarded $75,000 to advance from engineering report to district formation.

Next Steps

- Engineering Report:  The report is being finalized.  It analyzes three potential configurations and assigns rough cost figures.

- Selection of Service Area:  Two of the options focus on commercial properties, and the third expands the district to include adjacent residential streets.  The Town will conduct outreach to determine if there is interest among residential property owners in joining the sewer district.

​- District Formation:  Using a grant of $75,000 from Dutchess County, the Town will advance toward district formation.  This involves engineering refinements, calculation of specific costs, and legal formation of the district.

Sewer District Options
Option 1 covers a small area and has been deemed financially infeasible.  Option 2 encompasses commercial properties along Route 9 (with optional connections to the historic sites).  Option 3 expands outward to cover adjacent residential neighborhoods. 

Full text:  Sewer Feasibility Study (draft)