U.S. Representative Nick Langworthy speaking in Randolph on February 18. Photo courtesy Rep. Nick Langworthy’s office

RANDOLPH – U.S. Representative Nick Langworthy has secured $1 million in federal funding for a water infrastructure project in Randolph.

Much like in Ellicott, Langworthy secured $1 million in federal funding that a smaller municipality will be able to use for modernization and renovations. With Randolph’s sewer project having been in the works for years, and multiple hiccups along the way disrupting the process, the federal funding will provide the necessary resources for town officials to upgrade the available services.

Langworthy announced that funding had been secured specifically for the critical sanitary sewer system improvements in the town of Randolph. Langworthy not only noted the residents that rely on these public systems each day, but also noted those that would likely wish to tap into a public system that is not yet available to them. Langworthy again noted that these funds are not a result of the 2021 Infrastructure Bill that took place under the Biden administration, instead pointing out that the funding has been worked directly into the federal budget and approved by the executive office. Langworthy said the funding comes from an appropriation bill, of which 11 has already been signed into law. Though Langworthy stated that the last few years have seen delays in appropriations, this funding will prove crucial to developing small communities and giving these areas a more stable shot at the future.

“We have eleven of our appropriation bills signed into law. That means real tangible progress for communities like Randolph,” said Langworthy. “This million dollar investment will modernize the town’s aging wastewater treatment facility. It is a smart, necessary, investment for local infrastructure, which residents rely on every single day. You kind of wake up each day and expect the sewer to work, but it’s really, really expensive to provide this critical infrastructure, and no level of government in the Southern Tier can do it completely alone.”

The project includes upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant including the addition of required effluent disinfection and various upgrades to essential operational equipment.

Langworthy said the improvement will further protect the water quality in nearby sources, such as the Little Conewango Creek.

“This isn’t just about pipes and permits, it’s about making sure that this community has the reliable infrastructure it needs to grow, to function, and to thrive,” said Langworthy. “What I’m proud that we’ve done here is fought for our fair share of federal tax dollars to bring home to Randolph. Projects like this are essential for the residents that live here, but they’re also building blocks for future economic development. If we’re going to attract investment, we’re going to support our local business, and maintain property values, we absolutely must have modern and reliable infrastructure on water and sewer.”

Jason Beaver, Randolph water and wastewater supervisor, said town officials will definitely be doing upgrades to the lift station, which may include new pumps and general replacements. Additionally, Beaver noted the addition of the SCADA system that will be installed. SCADA is an electronically implemented system which collects various data on the wastewater. This allows for remote, and constant, monitoring, which helps to reduce costs and detect problems early. Beaver stated that this project has been going on long before he stepped into the role for the town roughly one year ago. Now that a large amount of funding has been secured, Beaver seemed eager to begin getting the upgrades in place, making the town’s services safer and far more efficient in the process.