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Join the Queen City Clean Waters Interactive Website! Explore, learn, and take action to protect our local waterways. Get involved today and make a difference!

About The Initiative

The Queen City Clean Waters Initiative will reduce overflows from the City’s sewers by helping flow reach the Bird Island Wastewater Treatment Facility during wet weather, instead of entering Buffalo’s creeks and river. Implementing this initiative, which includes 50+ sites in total, will cost approximately $1B over the next 15 years including $250M in treatment facility upgrades.

Clean waters and a resilient Buffalo.

To safeguard public health and the environment while fostering strong community partnerships, creating meaningful workforce opportunities, and driving lasting economic impact for future generations in Buffalo.

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Initiative Timeline

  • Timeline item 1 - incomplete

    Queen City Clean Waters Initiative Brand Launch

    On October 16th, 2024 the Buffalo Sewer Authority (BSA), elected officials, and community stakeholders gathered at Freedom Park to unveil the Queen City Clean Waters Initiative. The initiative is a $1 billion undertaking to improve local waterways over the next 15 years. The initiative will include infrastructure enhancements at 50+ sites across the city, including $250 million in upgrades at the Bird Island Wastewater Treatment Facility.

  • Timeline item 2 - active

    Stakeholder Advisory Committee Monthly Meetings

    The task of the Stakeholder Advisors will be meeting with the Buffalo Sewer Authority Staff and consultant team will participate in monthly meetings to provide guidance and assistance to Buffalo Sewer Authority staff and consultants working on the QCCW initiative on the engagement process. We will be hosting a series of meetings to enhance our engagement strategies.

  • Timeline item 3 - incomplete

    Edison Street & Martha Street Offline Storage Project

    The Edison-Martha OLS project involves the construction of an underground, offline concrete tank capable of storing combined sewage flows to reduce overflows to the buried section of Scajaquada Creek. The design is ongoing and will be complete in Fall 2026. Construction will start in Summer 2027.

  • Timeline item 4 - incomplete

    Sidney Street & Lark Street Offline Storage Project

    The Sidney-Lark OLS project involves the construction of an underground, offline concrete tank capable of storing combined sewage flows to reduce overflows to the buried section of Scajaquada Creek. The design is ongoing and will be complete in Spring 2027. Construction will start in Winter 2027.