Major Sewer Overhaul Begins on Buffalo's West Side

Two-year, $29.3 million project aims to reduce sewage discharge into local waterways

Apr. 10, 2026 at 12:21am

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A highly textured, abstract painting in muted tones of green, blue, and gray, depicting a complex network of curved pipes, intersecting circles, and spiraling organic forms, conceptually representing the underground sewer system of a city.A major infrastructure project aims to modernize Buffalo's aging sewer system and reduce pollution in local waterways.Buffalo Today

The Buffalo Sewer Authority has broken ground on a major infrastructure project to modernize the sewer system on Buffalo's West Side. The $29.3 million Breckenridge Street Combined Sewer Overflow Control Project will replace aging sewer pipes, some over 100 years old, and redirect sewage flow to the city's wastewater treatment plant to cut down on pollution entering the Black Rock Canal and Niagara River during heavy rain events.

Why it matters

Aging sewer infrastructure is a major environmental and public health concern for many older cities like Buffalo. This project is part of a broader effort to upgrade the city's water management systems and reduce the amount of untreated sewage that ends up in local waterways, which can harm aquatic ecosystems and pose risks to human health.

The details

The project will involve replacing sewer pipes and laterals, installing a new water main on West Avenue, and repaving streets in the construction zone. Residents can expect to see construction equipment, new traffic patterns, and some disruptions in the West Avenue and Lafayette Avenue area over the next two years as the work is completed.

  • The project broke ground on April 10, 2026.
  • Construction is expected to take approximately two years to complete.

The players

Buffalo Sewer Authority

The municipal agency responsible for managing Buffalo's sewer and wastewater infrastructure.

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What’s next

Once the project is finished, the city will monitor the impact on reducing sewage discharge into local waterways.

The takeaway

This major infrastructure upgrade is a critical step in Buffalo's efforts to modernize its water management systems and protect the environment and public health by cutting down on pollution in the region's rivers and canals.