The Authority is a public benefit corporation that was created in 1992 by an act of the State, for the purpose of assisting the County and its municipalities in providing adequate supplies of clean, reasonably priced water and the proper treatment of wastewater. In addition to assisting municipalities with their water and sewer needs, the Authority owns and operates nine water systems and three wastewater systems, located in the Towns of Beekman, Dover, Hyde Park, Pleasant Valley, Rhinebeck, and Red Hook. Collectively, these systems service over 10,000 people.

The Authority is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the County Executive and the County Legislature. Thomas LeGrand, a Rhinebeck businessman, chairs the Board of Directors. Daniel J. McCabe, an attorney from Poughkeepsie is the Vice Chairperson. Vincent J. DiMaso, a commercial real estate broker living in the Town of Poughkeepsie, is Treasurer.  Rudy Vavra, an artist with a background in environmental design architecture, resides in Milan. Patrick Dealy, the owner of a small consulting firm with a background in finance, resides in Rhinebeck.  Samuel Bartholomew, a retired public works commissioner from the Town of Beekman, holds a non-voting position on the Board and serves as Secretary.   Ex-officio board members include Kealy Salomon, Dutchess County Commissioner of Planning and Development, and Ed Hoxsie, Manager of the County Soil and Water Conservation District. Bridget Barclay heads up the Authority staff as the Executive Director, with Mary Morris as the Deputy Director.

Since 1995, the Authority has completed over $45 million dollars in capital improvement projects. The largest was the $30 million Central Dutchess Water Transmission Line, which runs 13-miles from Poughkeepsie to East Fishkill, along public roadways and the County-owned Maybrook corridor (site of the future Central Dutchess Rail Trail.) This water main provides a link from the Hudson River to the central and southern areas of Dutchess County, providing more options for safe and secure water supplies for existing and future development in this region. County Executive William Steinhaus was instrumental in securing over $22 million in funding for this project from the State and IBM Corporation. The project was completed in 2007.
 
Through strong operational oversight and sound fiscal management, the Authority strives to provide reliable service to our water and sewer system customers while maintaining long-term rate stability and affordability.  The Authority’s ability to bond at competitive interest rates, due to the backing of Dutchess County, combined with the project management capabilities of our full-time professional staff, have enabled us to consistently complete major capital improvement and expansion projects on-time and on-budget.  In addition, the Authority has often been successful in obtaining grants and low-interest loans to keep project costs as low as possible.  Significant water and sewer system improvement projects have included:

• Chelsea Cove Sewer, Beekman – Reconstruction of major treatment components and replacement of the building housing the treatment system, including improved odor control.
  
  
• Valley Dale Water, Pleasant Valley – Rehabilitation of groundwater wells to eliminate seasonal water shortages and installation of an emergency generator to ensure continuity of water service during power outages.
  
  
• Harbourd Hills/Zone D, Hyde Park – Construction of an interconnection main to connect the existing Harbourd Hills Water System to the Authority’s Hyde Park Regional Water System, allowing the abandonment of poor quality groundwater wells and providing public water service to additional properties along Route 9G.
  
  
• Staatsburg Water System, Hyde Park and Rhinebeck - Construction of an interconnection main to connect the existing Staatsburg Water System to the Authority’s Hyde Park Regional Water System, allowing the abandonment of a poor quality surface water source, and extensive distribution system improvements to improve service reliability and restore the fire-fighting capability of the system.

Authority staff is available to provide technical assistance to communities regarding the management of existing water and sewer systems, as well as the planning and development of new infrastructure.  Utilizing funds appropriated by Dutchess County, and subject to the approval of the County Executive, the Authority may also provide matching funds to assist communities with preliminary project development efforts.  The Authority is currently providing technical and/or funding assistance to potential new water and sewer projects in Hyde Park, North East and Millerton, Amenia, Beekman, and Red Hook.  In addition, the Authority continues to work with the County Department of Planning and Development in support of water resource management activities.  Using County funds to engage a hydrogeologist, the Authority in 2006 completed an aquifer recharge and septic density report, recommending standards for maximum septic system density based on local soil types.

Additional information on the Authority and on the Authority’s water and sewer systems is available through the various links on this website.  If you need additional information please contact us. 


Bridget Barclay, Executive Director, DCWWA
(845) 486-3601