Syracuse, New York – Onondaga County officials have formally submitted a revised plan to clean up Onondaga Lake. 

County officials recently submitted to US District Judge Frederick Scullin a plan that will forgo the construction of three new neighborhood treatment plants. The new proposed plan will call for the construction of two large underground storage facilities, and an extensive program to implement green infrastructure throughout the City to capture storm water runoff where it lands. Green infrastructure uses natural systems to capture storm water and prevent run-off. The use of systems like tree trenches, rain gardens, green roofs, rain barrels and porous pavement catch and absorb storm water, preventing it from flowing into sewer systems. This reduction on volume can help mitigate the amount of untreated water that makes it way to Onondaga Lake and its tributaries. 

 

The new plan would cost less money and provide several secondary benefits to the entire Syracuse community. By eliminating proposed construction of three additional neighborhood treatment facilities, the County would save money that could then be used to provide funding for green infrastructure projects. The projects would help to revitalize several areas and establish environmentally sustainable projects throughout Syracuse. Additionally, the plan would call for the construction of a 3.7 million gallon storage tank in Armory Square and 3.2 million gallon tank near State Fair Boulevard to temporarily hold water runoff from overflowing sewers. 

Judge Scullin has reserved his decision pending review and approval from the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Onondaga County Legislature. 

Under the new plan, Onondaga County would be required to capture and treat 400 million gallons of polluted water using a combination of both green (natural systems) and gray (traditional pipes) infrastructure solutions by 2018.