Staff Report / June 7, 2026
PENN YAN – The Penn Yan Village Board has approved an updated bond resolution authorizing up to $7.33 million for major improvements at the village’s water treatment plant. The revised project cost represents an increase from the original estimate of $5.61 million, with village officials citing an expanded project scope and more detailed engineering work as reasons for the higher price tag. The upgrades are intended to modernize plant operations and improve the treatment process for the community’s drinking water.
Village officials said the project will focus on improving automation systems and addressing chlorine contact time requirements needed to ensure proper disinfection of drinking water. According to Director of Public Works Melissa Gerhardt, the village’s existing clear well is too small to meet current operational needs, requiring the distribution system to help achieve required chlorine contact times. One option under consideration would involve converting and enlarging existing waste tanks for use as additional clear well capacity.
Key components of the project include:
- Water treatment plant automation upgrades
- Improvements to chlorine contact time capacity
- Potential conversion of existing waste tanks into clear wells
- Upgrades recommended through previous plant evaluations and studies
- Infrastructure improvements designed to support long-term system reliability
The village recently secured a $500,000 grant through Empire State Development to support automation efforts and continues to pursue additional state and federal funding opportunities to offset project costs. Penn Yan has also applied for Community Development Block Grant funding related to the project. Officials said the increased investment reflects the transition from preliminary planning into a more detailed engineering phase and is intended to ensure the village can continue providing safe, reliable drinking water to residents for decades to come. The borrowing authorization carries a probable usefulness period of 40 years and may be supplemented by future grants and low-cost financing programs available through New York State.
