LIVINGSTON COUNTY – Livingston County is applying for a New York State Grant to make water distribution in Avon and Geneseo more efficient.
Bill Bacon, Director of Livingston County Development, says that if approved, the $300,000 grant would go towards finding ways to cut water delivery costs the villages of Geneseo and Avon.
“Until the work begins on the program, the consultant will have to allow their approach to evolve as they find ways to accomplish the ultimate goal of saving money and becoming more efficient,” said Bacon. “For example, we can see if the villages can gain any efficiencies by purchasing equipment in bulk at the county level, especially for leak prevention or detection.”
The County would find a consultant to look for possible cost-saving measures. Depending on what the consultant finds, the grant could open the door for further projects.
“The project would be exploratory, but if the consultant finds that there is a way to drastically cut costs that will be considered, possibly as another grant and project entirely,” said Bacon.
The grant is intended to check and update update the 1991 water plan, incorporate sanitary sewer; outline the current state of water/sewer in the county; define exiting operations, management structure, budget and operations.
The proposal also would recommend improvements to: purchasing leak detection equipment; GIS/mapping/survey; billing software; equipment purchases; staff training; lab testing facilities; and regulatory management to include emergency preparedness and security.