DEC Sues Buffalo Sewer Authority Over Sewage Violations

BUFFALO, NY — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has filed a lawsuit against the Buffalo Sewer Authority, citing significant sewage violations affecting neighborhoods on the west side of the city. The 19-page lawsuit was submitted on Tuesday and alleges the authority has discharged 2.9 million gallons of untreated sewage and runoff annually into the Niagara River and adjacent waterways.

This situation has raised severe public health and environmental concerns. Nikki Ronan, a resident near the Niagara River, commented, “It’s definitely impacting the quality of life of our neighborhood. The Bird Island Pier is one of our favorite places to walk as a family, and it is also the smelliest place to walk in Western New York right now.” Ronan stated they have avoided the area for much of the year due to the odor.

The DEC emphasizes that the sewage discharge degrades waterways vital for drinking water, fishing, and recreation. The lawsuit also claims the Buffalo Sewer Authority has not fulfilled project deadlines and has repeatedly violated permits. These include unauthorized dry weather bypasses that discharged between 11 and 78 million gallons of sewage in past years.

The authority has previously noted significant problems within its primary sewer tanks, which date back to the 1930s. Repair costs are estimated at around $80 million. “I almost wish the DEC had taken action sooner,” Ronan added, highlighting the necessity of safeguarding local waterways.

In response to the lawsuit, the Buffalo Sewer Authority announced a 15-year, $1 billion initiative aimed at upgrading the wastewater treatment system. Part of this plan allocates $250 million for improvements at the Bird Island wastewater treatment facility to address odor control.

The authority stated, “Since 2014, Buffalo Sewer has been working in conjunction with the DEC to enact a long-term control plan to mitigate combined sewer discharges. Over the past decade, it has become clear that some projects in the 2014 plan could not be constructed as envisioned. We are now implementing the Queen City Clean Waters Initiative to make various infrastructure improvements to reduce these discharges.”

Ronan concluded by expressing that the sewer authority must act promptly on environmental concerns. “The sewer authority owes it to the citizens of Buffalo who are living and investing in this neighborhood. Our environment deserves to be taken care of, and I believe we need to move as quickly as we can to make sure this happens,” she said.