OCWA Advances Environmental Review for Raw Water Transmission Main

OCWA Advances Environmental Review for Raw Water Transmission MainThe Syracuse-based water authority designated itself as the lead agency under the State Environmental Quality Review Act for multiple upcoming capital projects.

OCWA moved to declare itself the lead agency for the environmental review of the Nine Mile Raw Water Transmission Main.

The board advanced SEQRA reviews for the Fairmount work center replacement and Wheatley Road restoration.

Jeffrey Brown was authorized to execute new main extension and job order contracts.

During its May 20, 2026, board meeting, the Onondaga County Water Authority (OCWA) in Syracuse, New York, took preliminary steps to advance several infrastructure and capital improvement projects. The board introduced motions to declare OCWA the lead agency under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) for multiple initiatives. Chief among these is a project concerning a raw water transmission main, identified in meeting documents as the Nine Mile transmission main. Additional projects advancing through the SEQRA lead agency declaration phase include the replacement of the Fairmount work center and restoration work on Wheatley Road. On the procurement and expansion front, the board considered a motion to authorize Jeffrey Brown to execute a series of main extension and job order contracts on behalf of the authority. Furthermore, the board reviewed procurement actions, including the approval of an amendment for a 2026 vacuum excavation bid and the award of a contract for crane and hoist inspections. Routine monthly reports on water production, delivery, and water main breaks, alongside tracking data for Ontario and Otisco lake levels, were also submitted to the board for review.