Danby Gets Senate $$ For Water Study

State Senator James L. Seward today announced a $25,000 senate grant for an aquifer study in the Town of Danby that will provide information for the town's use in planning and development. Seward unveiled the funding at the town hall in Danby just prior to a town hall style meeting with local residents of his senatorial district.

"I commend the town board for looking at a critical issue like its future drinking water supply," Seward said. "Because residents of Danby rely on groundwater for their drinking water, it is critical that the town understand the extent and availability of its aquifer. It's good planning in light of development pressures, and I applaud the town for its vision."

The senate initiative will help pay the town's share of a study of the Upper Buttermilk Creek/Danby Creek aquifer to be undertaken jointly with Tompkins County and the United States Geological Survey. The entire price of the study is $272,614, but it will cost the town about $26,500 in each of four years.

"I want to thank Sen. Seward for his leadership and assistance," said County Legislator Frank P. Proto. "The town is anticipating continuing development pressure and the data provided by this study will give local governments, water managers, businesses and homeowners water information needed to ensure safe drinking water, its availability for economic development, and a healthy aquatic environment."

"Today's announcement is about two issues: Sen. Seward helping bring back state dollars to Danby in a way no other legislator has done, the relief that it offers our budget, and our effort to provide for the water needs of future Danby residents who will look back in a generation and know this study was key to our future," said Danby Town Supervisor Ric Dietrich. "We are very thankful for the senator's attention to our needs here in Danby."

The study will evaluate the quality and quantity of water in the central Danby growth area. Supervisor Dietrich said the study "will provide valuable information on protecting drinking water supplies, evaluating potential use of the aquifer for a public water supply, assessing whether groundwater contamination exists, and determining locations most suitable for hamlet development. "

"The senate funding reduces pressure on local real property taxes and will provide an important environmental benefit to the town," Seward concluded.

The funds were appropriated as a senate legislative initiative in the 2006-2007 state budget.

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