Village of Ellicottville (Winner)
County: Cattaraugus County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (716) 699-4636

The Village of Ellicottville’s Joint Engineering/Public Works Department is a prime example of successful municipal collaboration. It consolidated the Town Highway Division and the Village Department of Public Works, Water Division, Sewer Division, and Building/Code Enforcement Division into one Department. The Town/Village Engineer is a licensed engineer and serves as the department head. This project has not only saved taxpayers money, but it has improved communication with residents, reduced response times to resident concerns, improved service delivery and is expected to have a positive impact on long-term capital planning and preventative maintenance.

Village of Bergen (Winner)
County: Genesee County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (585) 494-1513

The Village of Bergen rehabilitated an old, deteriorating water pump building and turned it into an all-season pavilion that has now become the hub of the community. The Sage Pavilion has hosted 65 events in its first year, providing a versatile gathering space at a fraction of what it would have cost the Village to build new. Each event provides the opportunity for exposure of village businesses, parks and facilities, services, the library, the local museum, housing options, and the historic district in the Village of Bergen.

Village of Interlaken
County: Seneca County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (607) 532-9200

Located between Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, the Village of Interlaken decided to renovate their old water tower and take advantage of their location between New York’s largest Finger Lakes. Having experienced a leaking tower, and drought-stricken wells, the Village took the initiative to replace their antiquated water system. While still being decided, the Village is replacing its 1933 system by developing either a shore well, or a water intake system in the Cayuga Lake. The Village expects a new water tank, and new water source to solve its yearly problem of having a near water-shortage. The renovation is expected to cost the Village $5.6 million, which will be funded heavily by the NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) which is expected to kick about half of the costs. While the project has yet to be underway, the Village of Interlake expects that the project will bring great changes to the residents!

Village of Corinth (Winner)
County: Saratoga County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (518) 654-2012

The Village of Corinth is located along the Hudson River within the Adirondack Park. It has a total land mass of 1.1 square miles and 2,559 residents, 57.6% of whom are low and moderate income. Land use within the Village is dominated by residential properties with some commercial areas. The topography is generally flat and the Village relies upon pump stations to convey wastewater from its approximately 10+ miles of sanitary sewer mains to the central wastewater treatment plant. The system serves 1,221 single family residences, 24 commercial establishments, and 16 users outside of the Village.

Village of South Floral Park
County: Nassau County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (516) 352-8047

The village initiated a Going Greener program in 2016 in an effort to reduce negative effects on the environment of daily Village Hall activities while reducing costs. The village started with the introduction of a recycling program. Village Hall now diligently recycles all paper and plastic/aluminum waste. The village also recycles all toner and ink cartridges. In addition, thermostat controllers were placed on heating units and a schedule to turn off heating and cooling units was created. The temperature on the boiler and hot water heaters were adjusted to reduce hot water waste and electricity, and radiators were turned off in office areas of little to no use.

Village of Scarsdale
County: Westchester County
Population: 10,001 to 50,000
Village Hall: (914) 722-1100

The Village of Scarsdale created a food scrap recycling program to help with waste reduction and help residents be more environmentally friendly. The village made it possible for residents to compost their food scraps by setting up a drop-off site located at the Village Recycling Center. This commercial-grade food scrap recycling service meets the community needs in a cost-effective manner. An ad-hoc committee was created consisting of residents with experience in food scrap recycling and village staff to monitor program implementation and conduct outreach and education regarding the new service.

Village of Port Chester
County: Westchester County
Population: 10,001 to 50,000
Village Hall: (914) 939-5200

Port Chester is undergoing a full sewer system evaluation and repair program to bring the village's century-old infrastructure up to environmental compliance standards. The repairs and replacement work will mitigate inflow/infiltration of stormwater and sanitary sewage and will increase the system's overall efficiency. In order to pay for these infrastructure improvements, the village adopted a sewer rent program to levy taxes on system users based on the volume of water discharge into the system.

Village of Upper Brookville
County: Nassau County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (516) 624-7715

The village’s new Garbage Disposal District (GDD) is a unique variation on single hauler village trash collection. It was designed to lower the cost of collection, reduce taxes and improve property values over time, and improve the environment and quality of life in the village. It also significantly reduces the cost of future road repaving. The GDD was patterned after a similar program in a nearby village adopted a few years earlier.

Village of Laurel Hollow (Winner)
County: Nassau County
Population: Less than 10,000
Village Hall: (516) 692-8826

In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, the Village had difficulties obtaining regular gasoline for Village vehicles. An agreement was already in place with the Town of Oyster Bay providing the Village with access to Town fueling pumps; however the pumps were not located in close proximity to the Village. There are no commercial gasoline pumping facilities located within the Village or within close proximity. The Village owned an underground gasoline storage tank and fuel pump at our Police Booth, which was unused after the Village entered into an agreement with the Village of Oyster Bay Cove to provide police protection services in June 2012. Although the tank was unused, there remained a recurring expense associated with insuring and testing it.

Village of Hamilton (Winner)
County: Madison County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (315) 824-1111

In 2010, the Village of Hamilton Board of Trustees and the Municipal Utilities Commission were approached by the three largest employers within the Village limits, requesting that a feasibility study be done to determine whether there was an economic and environmental benefit by bringing natural gas to the Village and surrounding communities. The study revealed that offering an alternative heating option would help reduce costs and the carbon footprint of the community. In 2012, a public referendum was approved, allowing the Village Board of Trustees to create a Municipally Owned and Operated Natural Gas Utility.

City of Batavia (Winner)
County: Genesee County
Population: More than 10,000
City Hall: (585) 345-6300

The City of Batavia’s water and wastewater infrastructure includes a complex network of buried infrastructure, pumping stations, storage tanks and treatment facilities. Many of the major system components are aging and have exceeded their original design life. Similar to other communities, the City’s assets are deteriorating due to environmental conditions and normal wear and tear. As a result, increased operation and maintenance expenditures, in conjunction with capital renewal, will be required in the future. Without proper maintenance and ongoing capital reinvestment, increased failure rates and declining levels of service will inevitably result.

Village of Lake Placid (Winner)
County: Essex County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (518) 523-2597

The Incorporated Village of Lake Placid, the Olympic Village, has a residency of 2,521, but expands regularly to a tourism population of 22,000. Tourism in the immediate region generates 30% of the tourism revenue in the seven county NYS North Country region. The Village's sewer infrastructure consisted of a 100 year old plus sewer trunk line, which runs the last 1 1/2 miles directly in to the Wastewater Treatment plant. Part of this line resided under a decommissioned Hydro Dam. The Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) infrastructure supports four municipalities: Village of Lake Placid, Town of North Elba, Lake Placid Central School District and the Olympic Regional Development Authority. Failure of this line would impact not only these municipalities, but the surrounding ones, Essex County, the State of New York and potentially other states and water bodies. Failure of the system would curtail the immediate economic vitality of the region, with long-term implications for future tourism and growth.

Village of Cortland
County: Cortland County
Population: 10,001 to 50,000
City Hall: (607) 749-0678

Marietta Corporation (FDA-registered), a leader in the Hotel Guest Amenities industry is headquartered in the City of Cortland. Cortland serves as its largest private sector employer with 840 employees locally representing 11% of the City's labor force. The Company's core competencies are: high performance skin and hair care development and manufacturing, bar soap manufacturing, retailing-size bottle and tube filing, hotel-size bottle and vial filling, packet manufacturing and affixing and bulk compounding.

Village of Great Neck (Winner)
County: Nassau County
Population: 5,001 to 10,000
Village Hall: (516) 482-0019

More than a decade ago, the EPA mandated that nitrogen discharges into Long Island Sound be reduced. The NYS DEC then mandated that the two sewer systems on the Great Neck peninsula that were built in the 1930s reduce their nitrogen output. Neither plant could be upgraded to meet the requirements. Diversion of the influent to a Nassau County plant on the south shore of Long Island (Great Neck is on the north shore) was studied as was the reconstruction of both plants and the combination of the collection systems so that one larger plant could process all of the influent. The Village of Great Neck plant served about 2/3 of the Village and processed about 1/3 as much as the other plant. That other plant, the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District plant, is owned and operated by a Town of North Hempstead special district. It served the balance of the Village's properties as well as properties in certain other villages and the town.

Village of Franklin
County: Delaware County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (607) 829-6776

The Village of Franklin's water system was approximately 150 years old, causing efficiency and water quality to be low. Numerous breaks, plugged lines, and other failures were regularly occurring, costing several thousand dollars in time and repairs. It was becoming extremely difficult to keep the system in working order.

Village of Scarsdale
County: Westchester County
Population: 10,001 to 50,000
Village Hall: (914) 722-1231

In 2007, historic levels of flooding caused the Village of Scarsdale, mirroring the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Flood Plain boundaries, to commission a Village-Wide Comprehensive Storm Water Management Plan in 2009. In addition to identifying and evaluating the six critical and 10 known problem sub-drainage basin areas, the report identified 26 flood mitigation and water quality capital improvement projects totaling roughly $20 million.

Village of Fair Haven
County: Cayuga County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (315) 529-0093

The Village of Fair Haven worked with the Cayuga County Water and Sewer Authority to install a regional wastewater collection throughout the Village and a portion of the Town of Sterling to comply with a 1991 consent order by the NYS DEC. The wastewater is sent to and treated by a regional treatment plant in Wayne County.

Village of Monroe
County: Orange County
Population: 5,001 to 10,000
Village Hall: (845) 783-4440

The Village of Monroe owned a piece of property that was being used as commuter parking for the Bus route to New York City. In working with NYS DOT and Coach/Short Line, the Village was able to secure the necessary funds to redevelop this parking area. Adjacent to the lot was a piece of vacant property the Village also purchased to incorporate an expansion to the new commuter lot.

City of Schenectady (Winner)
County: Schenectady County
Population: 50,000+
City Hall: (518) 382-5000

For over 50 years, the City of Schenectady Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) utilized anaerobic digesters in managing biosolids. When it came time to invest in an upgrade to the WPCP's treatment system, a solution was developed that not only met the current wastewater handling needs of the City, but also improved efficiency at the WPCP that was in line with the City's multi-faceted Energy Conservation Strategy.

Village of Greenwood Lake (Winner)
County: Orange County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (845) 477-9217

The Village of Greenwood Lake has actively looked into ways to improve the water quality of Greenwood Lake. In 2009, the Village Trustees decided to pursue a green infrastructure project at the Village Hall Complex as a demonstration of innovative stormwater management. The project utilized porous pavers to reduce impervious surface area, installed a rain garden to capture roof runoff from the police station/courthouse, created a vegetated swale (bioswale) with drop curbs to collect roof runoff and runoff from the asphalt drive aisle, installed a green screen trellis and planted native plants and trees throughout the site to help filter stormwater, as well as reduce the urban heat island impact. The project was completed in 2010 with funding from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act Green Innovation Grant Program.

Village of Weedsport (Winner)
County: Cayuga County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (315) 834-663

The Village of Weedsport's aged sanitary system and 0.30 MGD activated sludge wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) had an average daily flow of nearly 100% of the plant's capacity. Peak wet weather flows in excess of the plant's influent pumping capacity occasionally necessitated emergency bypass pumping operations. The Village and Barton & Loguidice, P.C., completed a combined collection system I/I Study and Facilities Plan to reduce wet-weather flows and provides a "green" solution to upgrading the WWTP.

City of Watervliet (Winner)
County: Albany County
Population: 10,001 to 50,000
City Hall: (518) 270-3800

In an effort to cut expenses and consolidate its workforce, the City of Watervliet implemented a Water Filtration Plant Automation Project. In 2008, the City began a systematic plan that in two years time resulted in a fully automated Water Filtration Plant with Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Computer System (SCADA) which is now monitored remotely by a supervisor. The alarm is linked to Police Dispatchers and Water Department personnel who respond to emergencies. Any municipality that operates a Water Filtration Plant would be a candidate for this type of project.

Village of Frankfort (Winner)
County: Herkimer County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (315) 895-7651

The Village of Frankfort is an economically distressed Mohawk Valley community whose utilities have been plagued by unidentified leakages, unauthorized users, and meter tampering. Studies by the water department indicated an estimated potable water loss of up to 40% was occurring throughout the Village. In an effort to control treatment, personnel costs, unlawful consumption, and to promote efficiency, the Village embarked on a Village-wide utility smart meter replacement project with 2009 CDBG funding.

Village of Williamsville (Winner)
County: Erie County
Population: 5,000 to 10,000
Village Hall: (716) 570-2472

The purpose of this project was to repair a collapsed wall section along Ellicott Creek, and to also restore access to Glen Park from the Village's Main Street. Poor drainage had caused erosion behind the historic wall and had undermined the wall structure. The Glen Park Committee held fund raising events to finance the project.

Village of Minoa
County: Onondaga County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (315) 656-3100

The Constructed Wetland Project was developed in 1993, and its sole purpose was to take the wastewater lading off the Treatment Facility. Research was completed over a 14 year period, and the Village was able to achieve 99% removal of wastewater from sewage.  The wetland was built at a low cost and has been beneficial for small municipalities as well as possible third world applications. The Village used available materials to create the wetland, and the project used no electricity or chemicals. The wetland has the ability to break down complex compounds, and in 2009, the Village was even able to test estrogen, which is not typically broken down in a Wastewater Treatment Facility. As a result, it was discovered that the wetlands have the ability to reduce the amount of estrogen in the wastewater. The Village is moving forward with research to actively remove more complex compounds.

Village of Rouses Point (Winner)
County: Clinton County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (518) 297-5502

Placing all utilities underground became a Village goal after NYSDOT reconstructed Lake Street (Main Street) in 1992. The visual impact of removing utility wires was immediately apparent, and as a result the Village began to budget for future undergrounding. Seeing the effects of the 1998 ice storm, the undergrounding project began that spring in an attempt to avoid future catastrophes. Today, approximately 95% of utilities are underground. The Village of Rouses Point, a Municipal Electric Association member, worked in partnership with the cable and telephone companies to accomplish its goals. The Village Electrical Department has been primarily responsible for the project, using in-house expertise to install underground conduits and electrical lines and services.

Village of Phelps (Winner)
County: Ontario County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (315) 548-3861

The transfer station project was a complete renovation, including a new building, to update the Village's trash collection process from a volume-based system to a weight-based system. This change made charges fair to end users and eliminated operator discretion while building accountability into the system by allowing supervisors to verify amount being paid for, to amount being disposed of. A proprietary "debit" card system utilizing existing Trash Flow Software was also developed. The project was developed specifically to reduce or eliminate the cost overrun of $20,000 annually.

City of Watervliet (Winner)
County: Albany County
Population: 10,001 to 50,000
City Hall: (518) 270-3800

The City of Watervliet, after decades of having its refuse and recycling picked up by outside contractors, felt the task could be performed more cost effectively and at a higher quality, and as a result started picking up its own refuse and recycling. The City appointed a committee of residents to write a new policy and implement the program.

Village of Evans Mills
County: Jefferson County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (315) 629-4753

The NYS Department of Health would not allow any additional growth within or outside the Village of Evan Mills until the water storage tank was replaced. As a result, a housing project was put on hold until the tank was addressed. The former tank had severe corrosion and stability issues and the NYSDOH required the Village e to replace it.

Village of Geneseo
County: Livingston County
Population: 5,000 to 10,000
Village Hall: (585) 243-1177

The Village of Geneseo has a curb-side brush pickup system that runs every other month. In order to address the problem of residents accumulating debris at other intervals, a Lend-a-Truck program was introduced. The Village now allows a dump truck to remain overnight at a residence, so that the resident can load the truck with brush and Village removes the truck the following morning.

Village of Honeoye Falls
County: Monroe County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (585) 624-1711

The Village of Honeoye Falls Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) and system had an Inflow/Infiltration problem that caused unpolluted stormwater to enter the system during wet weather, which resulted in surcharging of the system, sewer backups, and over capacity limits. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, which permits and regulates the WWTP, strongly suggested that the Village start correcting this problem in order to meet permitted levels of designed flow.

City of Saratoga Springs
County: Saratoga County
Population: 10,001 to 50,000
City Hall: (518) 587-3550

The City of Saratoga Springs entered into an energy performance contract with Johnson Controls in October 2007 to implement facility improvements that would save energy and create a comfortable environment for the City's citizens. Facility improvements were made in 12 City owned buildings. Improvements implemented included updates to old heating and cooling systems, the replacement outdated and unreliable chillers and boilers, energy efficient lighting, weatherization, and the installation of renewable energy sources. Despite the City's limited capital budget, necessary improvements were made to the buildings, and the resulting savings were guaranteed over a 15 year term. The project has generated environmental benefits and during the construction period the project was responsible for a total reduction of greenhouse gases emitted of 812 tons. The renovations done in Saratoga Springs are an example to surrounding cities on how to promote efficient and sustainable practices.

Village of Colonie (Winner)
County: Albany County
Population: 5,000 to 10,000
Village Hall: (518) 869-7562

This project consisted of the demolition of the original Village of Colonie's Department of Public Works garage built in the early 1950's and the construction of a new expanded garage in its place. The original block building which housed the DPW offices and break room was crumbling and the roof was poor. The four DPW supervisory personnel shared an area smaller than some residential closets, and the break room, shared by 20 employees, was very cramped and outdated as well. The shell of the building was advertised for bid and a contract was awarded. The only construction done by the contractor was the footings, four walls, roof and floor. All other parts of this project were completed by on-staff DPW personnel, including the site work rough grading, underground plumbing, all interior framing, electrical, plumbing, sheetrock, drop ceilings, doors, molding, paint and all the finish work. DPW personnel also completely disassembled and demolished the old building. Everything that was reusable was stored and re-used in the new building, including the HVAC rooftop unit.

City of Ogdensburg
County: St. Lawrence County
Population: 10,001 to 50,000
Village Hall: (315) 393-1130

The city of Ogdensburg installed a membrane gas holder several years ago for storing biogas, a byproduct of the anaerobic digesters. The purpose of storing the biogas is to maintain a supply that can be used as fuel for the boiler which is used to heat the digester.  Utilizing the biogas as a fuel source for the boiler minimizes and can eliminate the need for utilizing natural gas to power the generator which provides a substantial cost savings. The project combined all necessary processes to maximize efficient use of the anaerobic digester biogas, which maximizes use of this natural resource, therefore maximizing cost savings to the City. Installing the digester gas conditioning system was an important step in the process to produce the highest quantity of usable biogas available, as well as to remove the troublesome particulate including siloxanes from the biogas extending the life of the boiler and substantially minimizing maintenance on the boiler.

Village of Owego (Winner)
County: Tioga County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (607) 687-2282

The Village of Owego undertook a sewer rehabilitation project that will reduce the inflow/infiltration into the collection system and assist the Village in meeting the reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus required by the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Program. The project uses trenchless technology which eliminates pipe joints within the trunk line, thereby improving the flow and reducing friction loss. This decreases the chances of blockage within the lines, which affects service connections to Village residents.

City of Ithaca (Winner)
County: Tompkins County
Population: 10,001 to 50,000
City Hall: (607) 274-6501

The City of Ithaca entered into an energy performance contract with Johnson Controls, Inc. (JCI) to implement infrastructure improvements totaling $4.68 million that will generate approximately $6.1 million in savings over a 15 year period.  The project, which was implemented to help overcome limited capital available for facility improvements, enhance energy efficiency in City-owned facilities, and meet greenhouse gas reduction goals – included lighting, computerized energy management systems, upgrades to heating and cooling systems, replacements of roofs, windows and water meters, and the installation of automated meter reading and leak detection systems. Unique to the performance contract is a web-based learning program, Sustainable Energy Education & Communications (SEEC), that City employees are required to take and for which the City received an award.

Village of Sackets Harbor (Winner)
County: Jefferson County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (315) 782-8130

This initiative was the redevelopment of the historic Madison Barracks from an abandoned army barracks into a mixed-use development of residential, commercial and recreational uses. This redevelopment effort included obligations to upgrade the water and sewer systems as well as other infrastructure. The public/private reconstruction of the sewer system has allowed for growth and development opportunities in an otherwise abandoned critical property in the Village of Sackets Harbor.

Village of Tivoli (Winner)
County: Dutchess County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (845) 757-2021

The disposal and storage of sewage treatment plant sludge can represent a significant expense for municipalities. The Village of Tivoli was spending over $25,000 annually to bring their sludge to an out of town incineration facility. This expense, coupled with other environmental concerns, persuaded the Village to seek an alternative solution. With the help of local professionals and a NYSERDA grant, the Reed Bed Project was developed.