AKWESASNE, NY --The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe announced that it has awarded a contract to Con-Tech Building Systems to construct the expansion of the Tribe's waterline system along five roads in the Akwesasne community. The Phase VI East River Water Enhancement Project will consist of 4,681 meters of water main to be constructed over the next several months at the cost of $926,315.

Con-Tech Building Systems, of Governeur, New York, was founded in June 1988 and is a full-service general contracting firm that specializes in public construction projects in the St. Lawrence, Jefferson, and Lewis Counties. The firm has been involved in a variety of construction projects that include the Department of Transportation facility in Potsdam , New York , and the Vehicle and Cargo Inspection Station for the Ogdensburg Port Authority in Ogdensburg , New York . The construction company also completed the Child Care Center Expansion Project for the Tribe in 2005.

"I am pleased that we are getting set to begin construction on another phase of the waterline," said Ernie Thompson, Director of Planning and Infrastructure. "Since the project began in 2000, we have been able to obtain funding for a variety of construction projects that contribute towards our common goal of improving our community. Phase VI of the Water Enhancement Project is another example of the Tribe's commitment to secure federal resources to improve the quality of life for Akwesasne residents."

Grants totaling $1,185,000 was awarded to construct the East River Phase Six waterline extension by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Indian Health Services (HIS), and the Akwesasne Housing Authority (AHA).  Funds will be used to lay 4,681 meters of water main with individual service lines to households located on Beaver Meadow Road , Okwarine Road , Pyke Road , River Road , and Smuggler Run Road .

Plans for an extensive waterline system for Akwesasne began in June 2000 when the Tribe constructed a $2,500,000 water treatment plant. The facility is capable of providing 1-million gallons of potable water each day to residents connected to the water main. Planning and Infrastructure has been monitoring the facility's operation since it began producing water to the community in May 2002.

The water system currently provides quality water to most of the more than 900 households located on the reservation. Earlier phases of the project connected 450 homes and buildings on Cook Road , Mose Cook Road , a portion of River Road to Snye, Tarbell Road , Beaver Meadow Road , Jock Road , and along State Route 37. The project also included construction of a 500,000-gallon storage tank on Route 37 to meet fire flow and water pressure requirements.

Phase VI is the next to last part of the Tribe’s East River Water Enhancement Initiative. Construction for this stage of the waterline extension has begun and will be completed by the end of summer. The water main will be extended in the month of April along River Road and Smugglers Run Road . Okwarine Road and Beaver Meadow Road will be completed in May, with Pyke Road to be completed in June. Local residents are asked to be aware of these construction dates and to drive safely when traveling along these roads.

Phase VII of this initiative will extend water to the 40 households in the Drum Street/Hart Road area in 2007. Funding for the final phase has been partially secured and is presently in the design and environmental clearance stage. This phase will install a water main east on Route 37 before connecting into the existing water main on Cook Road .

When complete the entire project will have cost $10,400,000 to construct, with the majority of it funded by federal agencies. The project has received $8,950,000 in grant awards from the EPA ($1,250,000), USDA ($2,493,000), IHS ($1,309,000), HUD ($2,000,000), AHA ($590,000), Akwesasne Mohawk Casino ($225,000), and the Tribe ($157,000).

For more information about the Tribe's East River Water Enhancement Project, contact Ernie Thompson at (518) 358-2272 (ext. 282) or Travis Solomon, Construction and Transportation Manager, at (518) 358-2272 (ext. 188).

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