The Town of Montgomery was awarded a $1,428,148 grant from New York’s Water Infrastructure Improvement Act on Oct. 20 for upgrades to the Lake Vue Water District. The town will use the money to replace the district’s water treatment plant and install a new well.

The WIIA, established in 2015, is a grant program run by the state Environmental Facilities Corp. It funds drinking water and sewer projects in municipalities. This month, the state awarded nearly $500 million to 106 projects across all regions, including projects in the Town of Montgomery and the Village of Walden.

“Investing in water infrastructure is an investment in the future of every New Yorker,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said Oct. 20. “My administration will continue ensuring communities have the financial support and tools they need to protect public health and safeguard our natural resources while keeping these critical investments affordable.”

In addition to replacing the plant and adding a well, the project will improve treatment for iron and manganese. Town Supervisor Steve Brescia said the upgrades will significantly reduce the annual water bill for Lake Vue homeowners.

“We do have a bit of good news: we were awarded $1.4 million for water upgrades at Lake Vue Park. To the homeowners, that’s going to mean a yearly cost of $1,000 as opposed to $3,300, and that’s huge,” Brescia said at the Town Board’s Oct. 21 meeting.