Improvements sought for water plant
DELMAR —The Bethlehem Town Board will consider a proposal on Wednesday, Feb. 12, that would allocate $335,000 for engineering services aimed at addressing ongoing taste and odor concerns at the New Salem Water Treatment Plant and Vly Creek Reservoir.
The request follows an algae bloom in the reservoir last fall that led to widespread complaints from residents regarding water quality.
The town’s Department of Public Works (DPW) has requested approval to use up to $200,000 from the Water Fund Capital Reserve Fund to help cover the cost of the study, which is being conducted in partnership with CHA Consulting Inc. The remaining $150,000 has already been budgeted for engineering services at the plant.
The town of Bethlehem supplies approximately 1.6 billion gallons of drinking water annually to more than 11,600 homes and businesses. Water is sourced from four main locations: the Vly Creek Reservoir and New Scotland Wellfield, the Selkirk Wellfield, and the City of Albany. The New Salem Water Treatment Plant, located in the Town of New Scotland, treats water from the Vly Creek Reservoir.
According to a memorandum from the DPW, an unusually warm and dry period in October 2024 caused an algae bloom in the Vly Creek Reservoir. While the treatment plant successfully removed the algae from the water supply, residents continued to report taste and odor issues throughout the fall.
To address these concerns, the town recommissioned a powdered activated carbon (PAC) system and launched an aggressive system-wide flushing program in December 2024. However, the presence of geosmin and methyl-isoborneol (MIB) in the water persisted. These naturally occurring compounds, produced by algae and bacteria in lakes and reservoirs, are not harmful to public health but can create an earthy or musty taste and odor.
The town has been working with CHA Consulting Inc. and Hazen and Sawyer to develop a comprehensive plan to mitigate future water quality issues. CHA, a designated engineering firm for the town, has extensive experience with the New Salem Water Treatment Plant, while Hazen and Sawyer specializes in water quality management.
The proposal includes three primary components, the evaluation of advanced treatment methods, algae treatment and prevention, and the assessment of the New Salem Water Treatment Plant.
The study will examine various technologies for removing taste and odor compounds, including dissolved air flotation (DAF) thickeners, powdered activated carbon, granular activated carbon, and ultraviolet (UV) treatment. Additionally, it will assess options for improving sludge removal from the plant’s settling lagoon.
Engineers will investigate methods to reduce algae blooms in the Vly Creek Reservoir, including identifying the source organisms responsible for taste and odor compounds and determining high-risk periods for bloom development. The plan also calls for the creation of a long-term reservoir monitoring system.
Originally constructed in the 1950s and expanded in the 1970s, the plant requires significant capital improvements. While the DPW had initially planned to begin an assessment in 2025-2026, the recent algae-related issues highlighted the need for a more immediate evaluation.
The total cost of the proposed study is estimated at $350,000, including a contingency. The DPW has already allocated $150,000 from its budget for engineering services at the treatment plant. To cover the remaining balance, the department is requesting Town Board approval to use $200,000 from the Water Fund Capital Reserve Fund. This expenditure would be subject to a permissive referendum, meaning residents could petition for a public vote on the use of reserve funds.
The engineering study falls under a Type II action as defined by the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), meaning it does not require further environmental review. The study itself does not commit the town to any specific construction or infrastructure projects but serves as a foundation for future decision-making regarding water treatment improvements.
The Bethlehem Town Board will review and vote on the funding request and the engineering services proposal at its meeting on Feb. 12. If approved, the study will move forward as planned, providing a roadmap for long-term improvements to the town’s water treatment and reservoir management systems.
