The city has been awarded a $10.39 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to harden the wastewater treatment plant on Beach Street against storms, Mayor Dorinda Borer announced.
The grant — the largest federal grant in decades — is through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Program and will fund the final design and construction of a flood-hardening wall to protect West Haven’s wastewater treatment infrastructure against significant flooding.
The city will receive the funding as a Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities subgrant award through the state Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
“This critically important FEMA grant will protect our wastewater treatment plant against flooding and rising seas,” Borer said. “If the sewer plant is negatively impacted by significant flooding causing a compromise of the infrastructure, it could create a devastating impact across the city and Long Island Sound, and that is why everyone has worked collaboratively to bring this to fruition.
“I want to thank our grant writer, Olivia Bissanti, and our engineer, Abdul Quadir, for their collaboration on this project and assisting in securing these funds. I’m grateful for every state and federal agency that stepped up to help West Haven, including the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.”
The West Haven Water Pollution Control Plant is located on the Sound and has previously experienced flooding in severe weather. In nearly every storm, saltwater has damaged the plant’s equipment, jeopardizing operations and costing thousands to repair.
“FEMA’s $10.39 million grant award to the city is a game changer,” said Councilwoman Ruby Melton, D-2, whose district includes the plant at 2 Beach St. “It will fund a vitally needed project to protect the city’s wastewater treatment infrastructure against 500-year floods, which will benefit the city for years to come.”
Borer said the grant will also fund a floodwall to protect the wastewater pumping station at 167 Blohm St.
The solution to build floodwalls is supported by a comprehensive feasibility study done by the city’s engineering consultant, Black & Veatch.
Borer said the city is working with an engineering firm to complete the design and permitting process. A community engagement roundtable is expected this summer, with construction projected to begin in mid-to-late 2026.
The FEMA grant comes with a 25% cost match, which the city has included in the 2024 budget cycle for bonding, Borer said.