March 15, 2024

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and Congresswoman Claudia Tenney have secured a $750,000 federal grant to support the replacement of part of the Development Authority of the North Country's Army Water Line, ensuring a continued supply of fresh water to Fort Drum and surrounding communities.

"The Development Authority is very appreciative of the efforts of Senator Schumer and Congresswoman Tenney is securing this grant funding to ensure that critical infrastructure providing fresh water to Fort Drum be replaced, while keeping the cost to Fort Drum as low as possible," said Development Authority Executive Director Carl E. Farone, Jr. "Such investments in infrastructure supporting Fort Drum are imperative to the North Country economy and ensuring that Fort Drum is here to stay. We thank Senator Schumer and Congresswoman Tenney for recognizing the importance of Fort Drum to our national security and the economy of northern New York." 

In 2022 an assessment and inspection of the Army Water Line showed deterioration in some sections. Significant deterioration was found in a 13,000-foot section along Patterson Road just north of Watertown and was deemed at greatest risk of catastrophic failure. The water line carries drinking water from the City of Watertown to Fort Drum and also supplies water to the towns of Champion, LeRay and Pamelia, which are situated along the 11-mile pipeline. 

The costs of operating the Army Water Line are passed on to Fort Drum and outside users of the system. The Development Authority works diligently to ensure that those costs are as low as possible to help proactively ensure that the installation is secure and viable in the face of any future Base Realignment and Closure reviews. That is why the Authority sought grant funding to help pay for this project and will continue to seek grant funding for future capital projects associated with Fort Drum. 

Due to the urgency of the potential pipeline failure, the project began in 2023 and will be completed during the upcoming construction season.