The Livingston County Water and Sewer Authority (LCWSA) is advancing a comprehensive wastewater infrastructure improvement project focused on four critical sewer pump stations serving portions of the Towns of Leicester, Mount Morris, and Groveland. The project is intended to improve the reliability, resiliency, and long-term sustainability of the regional sewer collection system that conveys wastewater to the Mount Morris Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF).

The project includes improvements to the Shaker Pump Station and Cipriano Pump Station in the Mount Morris/Groveland service area, as well as the Seneca Foods Pump Station and Brian’s Diner Pump Station in the Leicester service area. These pump stations were originally constructed between 2002 and 2005 as part of sewer district extension projects intended to provide public sewer service to rural residential, commercial, and institutional areas along NYS Route 36 and NYS Route 408.

Over the past two decades, the pump stations have experienced increasing operational and maintenance challenges due to aging infrastructure, corrosion, outdated controls, and the lack of modern monitoring systems. A project engineering report completed by CPL Engineering and the Authority identified deficiencies including deteriorating pumps and motors, aging valves and piping, corrosion within wet wells, undersized and unsafe fiberglass enclosures, and outdated electrical and control systems. The existing pump stations also lack Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, limiting the Authority’s ability to remotely monitor alarms, pump operation, wet well levels, and emergency conditions in real time.

The engineering report further identified significant concerns related to public health, system resiliency, and environmental protection. Several pump stations within the Authority system have experienced failures and sewage overflows in the past, highlighting the need for modernization and improved redundancy. Sewer overflows and infrastructure failures can result in environmental contamination, impacts to local water resources, and public health risks associated with untreated wastewater exposure. The existing facilities are also vulnerable to power outages and equipment failures due to limited emergency backup systems.

Following a comprehensive evaluation of alternatives, the recommended project includes rehabilitation and modernization of the four existing pump stations rather than complete replacement. The proposed improvements include replacement of pumps, motors, valves, controls, and suction piping; installation of new SCADA monitoring and alarm systems; replacement of outdated electrical equipment; installation of emergency generators and portable generator connections; upgrades to ventilation systems to reduce corrosion caused by sewer gases; and construction of new walk-in style enclosures designed to improve operator safety and maintenance access.