Governor Kathy Hochul marked three years of accelerated progress in Mount Vernon’s water infrastructure overhaul Tuesday, celebrating the completion of the city’s Third Street Sewer Project and the Mount Vernon Healthy Homes Pilot Program—key milestones in the state’s $150 million environmental justice initiative.
These upgrades represent a dramatic turnaround for a city long plagued by aging, broken sewer lines, chronic flooding, and lead-contaminated drinking water. With dozens of repair and construction projects underway, Mount Vernon is finally seeing long-awaited investment in its essential infrastructure.
“The ongoing progress in Mount Vernon is a major victory for environmental justice,” said Governor Hochul. “This is what can be accomplished when federal, state, and local governments work together to overcome decades of neglect.”
The Third Street Sewer Project replaced temporary pumps with permanent infrastructure, including a new underground pumping station, nearly 400 feet of sewer piping, and an emergency generator. The project alleviates persistent flooding and sewage backups, improving wastewater service for thousands of residents.
Simultaneously, the Healthy Homes Pilot Program completed improvements on 24 high-risk, low-to-moderate income homes, providing sewer backflow prevention, water filtration, mold remediation, and more.
Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard called the progress “transformative,” crediting the state’s funding and fast-tracked implementation. “These investments are changing lives and restoring dignity to our residents,” she said.
Launched in 2022, the $150 million partnership between the state, Mount Vernon, and Westchester County has unlocked dozens of urgent infrastructure projects. To date, 40 miles of sewer lines have been cleaned and 10 miles repaired, reducing backups by 90 percent. Thirty-three priority projects funded by Clean Water Infrastructure Act grants are now underway, aiming to repair nearly 200 miles of sewer lines.
To support future improvements, Mount Vernon has begun developing a full asset inventory and management plan with $1 million in state funds. A reconstruction project on the Edison Avenue pump station is also advancing.
Additional initiatives include a $3 million green infrastructure project to address flooding at Fourth Street Park using bioretention systems and porous pavement, and a lead service line replacement program supported by $2 million in state grants. Of 12,000 service lines reviewed so far, about 7,800 were found to contain lead.
“These are not just fixes. These are foundational changes that will improve quality of life and protect public health for generations,” said Environmental Facilities Corporation CEO Maureen A. Coleman.
New York has now committed $6 billion to water infrastructure since 2017, with $2.2 billion in assistance awarded last year alone. The FY26 Executive Budget proposes an additional $500 million for clean water initiatives statewide.
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