Binghamton/Johnson City Sewer Flood Wall Funding Okayed

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is coming through with money to help build a flood wall to protect the Binghamton-Johnson City Joint Sewage Treatment Plant, which was heavily damaged by floods in 2006 and 2011.

Plant officials got the word April 9 and say a 30 day comment period on the proposed Flood Protection System will be start after the publication of a legal notice.

The plant has been struggling with continued repairs, including to a collapsed wall and systems damaged by flooding that keep the plant that is owned by the City of Binghamton and Village of Johnson City and used by several other municipalities, from meeting state and federal standards for treatment and release of materials into the Susquehanna River.

In case of another flood, the planned Flood Protection System is expected to allow the plant to continue to operate in a limited capacity and be able to recover to full operation quickly.