Report published 2026-10-19T21:16:49+00:00 UTC. Independently reviewed by an AI agent and approved by the editorial coordinator. Property-owner guide expanding the existing notice. Based on the September 21, 2026 owner letter and current OCWA project information; expected schedules do not establish work dates for an individual property.
Clay property owners along OCWA’s Eastern Branch Transmission Main route can flag wells, septic systems and other features for its design team while preliminary work is under way. OCWA’s project page says that work is currently in progress within or adjacent to existing easements; its September 21, 2026 owner letter asks residents to share information before construction begins.
The project will add a parallel water transmission main within existing easements. OCWA says the work is intended to improve capacity, redundancy and resiliency for existing customers and regional growth. Its project page lists survey, design and final permitting through November 2027, with construction scheduled for December 2027 through January 2031. Those are project-wide expectations, not a work appointment for an individual property.
For now, owners may see utility marking, surveying and stakes, soil borings, subsurface investigation, archaeological hand digging, brush clearing and temporary access. The letter says ground-protection matting may be installed in selected areas. It separates those preparations from later tree clearing and construction, which it does not expect to begin until December 2027.
To check whether an easement affects a property, the letter directs owners to their deed and survey. Anyone unsure can ask OCWA for an informational easement map. The published project map shows the general route; it does not identify an individual owner’s parcel boundaries or replace that property-specific check.
OCWA asks owners to identify private underground features in or near the easement, including wells, septic and sprinkler systems, electronic dog fences and other utilities. It also wants to know about planned property sales so new owners can be notified. The current project page’s work-impact advisement form accepts contact details and concerns about structures, fences, drainage and other features within existing easements. OCWA says early information can help its team plan and minimize impacts where practical.
The owner letter says residents do not need to be home for the preliminary activities and no one will need to enter their home. It says OCWA will make efforts to minimize disruption and restore disturbed areas, and that residents may receive door hangers with additional details. These are OCWA’s descriptions of the work, rather than a property-specific access determination.
Questions and property information can be sent to projects@ocwa.org or raised by calling 315-455-7061, extension 3159. The electronic form is linked on OCWA’s Eastern Branch project page. OCWA says that page will carry regular updates as design advances, so owners should check it for changes rather than treating the preliminary schedule as a final construction notice.
September 21 owner letter · General project map · OCWA project updates and work-impact form · Town notice and attachments. Source record remains below.
Typeset from the PDF of the official document — extraction method is not certified for this historical record; headings, motions and recorded votes are detected automatically, so spacing may differ from the original. The official copy governs.
PHONE: (315) 455-7061 FAX: (315) 455-8510 www.ocwa.org September 21, 2026 Property Owner Name Parcel Address: Parcel Street Address Mailing Address Clay, NY 13041 Clay, NY 13041 Tax Map Number: 000.-00-00.0 RE: Eastern Branch Transmission Main Project - Installation of a New Parallel Water Transmission Main and Accessory Components Dear Parcel Owner, We are writing to inform you of an upcoming water infrastructure improvement project existing water consumers as well as support projected growth in Central New York. This project will include the survey, design and installation of a new parallel transmission main within an existing easement on or near your property. A map identifying the general project area is enclosed.
The purpose of this letter is to provide you with initial information about the project and to encourage submission of questions or concerns for our design team to consider. Please review the following project details including website and contact information.
Why is this project happening?
This project is part of effort to strengthen and expand the water system that serves Central New York and to support regional growth. The work will improve system capacity, redundancy and resiliency, helping ensure reliable service for you and the region for years to come.
What is the project?
The project will include the installation of a second and associated infrastructure components such as valves and air releases. The second line will be installed within current easements and run parallel to the existing transmission main. Our initial work within the easements, which is happening from now through November 2027, will include preliminary site investigation and preparation activities to support the project, as summarized below. Does my property have an easement?
Our records indicate that your property either has an existing easement or is sufficiently near the work area to warrant notice of the project the existing easements which were sized to support construction of a new transmission main. You can reference your property deed and survey to identify the easement. If you are unsure, you may reach out to OCWA at the email address or phone number below to request an informational map of the easement.
Exactly what work is being done within the easements?
Based on the expected scope of the project, the work in the near-term being accomplished in the existing easements includes OCWA personnel, along with engineers, surveyors and associated equipment, performing:
Site observation/utility marking Land surveying and staking Soil boring and subsurface investigation Archeological surveying (hand digging) Brush clearing and temporary access creation (including temporary installation of ground protection matting in select areas) Note: We will make every effort to minimize disruption and restore disturbed areas upon completion of the work. You do not need to be home during these activities, and no one will need to enter your home. You may receive a door hanger with additional details.
Ultimately, construction of the new transmission main (expected to begin in December 2027) will include activities such as tree clearing, additional brush clearing, staging of materials and equipment, excavation of a new trench, movement of soil materials, assembly and welding of the new piping, testing and approval of the new piping, and restoration of the work areas. As OCWA completes its survey and marking work, we will develop a final project design. What happens next?
The project is currently in the preliminary design phase. In the coming weeks, you may notice OCWA and/or our consultants and contractors within the easement on or near your property conducting preparatory work as outlined above. This phase of work is necessary to allow us to design the project and will be ongoing through the fall of 2027. Tree clearing and construction activities are not expected to begin until December 2027. Please refer to our website (address below) for more up-to-date project timelines and details as they develop.
What type of information is OCWA seeking from you?
Before construction work begins in the easement, we want to hear from you. To support the efforts of OCWA personnel, as well as the engineers and surveyors working on behalf of OCWA, we would appreciate any information you believe may be important for our project team to consider, including:
The existence of wells, septic systems, sprinkler systems, electronic dog fences, or other underground private utilities in or near the easement.
Planned property sale (so we can alert the new owners at the appropriate time) Identifying these items early on allows us to plan ahead. Our goal is to incorporate this information where practical during design, and work collaboratively to minimize impacts during construction.
How do I contact OCWA regarding this project?
To share the information requested above, please email us at projects@ocwa.org, or complete the short electronic form available on the project website (address and QR code below). You can also contact us at 315-455-7061, Ext. 3159. Continued communication is critical for the success of this project, and OCWA is committed to keeping you informed. Please do not hesitate to contact us at any time with questions or information about your property that you would like us to be made aware.
Staying informed The dedicated project website (address and QR code below) will provide regular updates with the most current information, construction schedules, and progress updates. We encourage you to check this page regularly, particularly as the project moves from design into active construction. In support of sustainability, OCWA does not intend to send large quantities of mailings. Instead, we will utilize the website for regular project announcements. If any unique activities are set to occur near your property, you may receive a door hanger notice with specific details.
Thank you We appreciate your time and cooperation as we make this important investment in Central New York s water supply. It is our mission to provide safe, reliable and affordable water to residents, businesses and industries in Central New York in a manner protective of water resources and the environment.
HOW TO CONTACT OCWA QR Code Sincerely, Email: projects@ocwa.org (Link to Project Phone: 315-455-7061 Ext. 3159 Website) Andrew Weiss, P.E. BCEE EASTERN BRANCH TRANSMISSION MAIN Director of Technical Services PROJECT WEBSITE https://www.ocwa.org/capital-improvements/ebtm/ [Literal native PDF text; original page 2; source SHA256 fcb412d33575037b84fffa98d9fdc33f4bb62d2068ce3ec36ceaedf6f76b7cf4; extraction completeness unverified] Note: We will make every effort to minimize disruption and restore disturbed areas upon completion of the work. You do not need to be home during these activities, and no one will need to enter your home. You may receive a door hanger with additional details.
Ultimately, construction of the new transmission main (expected to begin in December 2027) will include activities such as tree clearing, additional brush clearing, staging of materials and equipment, excavation of a new trench, movement of soil materials, assembly and welding of the new piping, testing and approval of the new piping, and restoration of the work areas. As OCWA completes its survey and marking work, we will develop a final project design. What happens next?
The project is currently in the preliminary design phase. In the coming weeks, you may notice OCWA and/or our consultants and contractors within the easement on or near your property conducting preparatory work as outlined above. This phase of work is necessary to allow us to design the project and will be ongoing through the fall of 2027. Tree clearing and construction activities are not expected to begin until December 2027. Please refer to our website (address below) for more up-to-date project timelines and details as they develop.
[Literal native PDF text; original page 2; source SHA256 fcb412d33575037b84fffa98d9fdc33f4bb62d2068ce3ec36ceaedf6f76b7cf4; extraction completeness unverified] What type of information is OCWA seeking from you?
Before construction work begins in the easement, we want to hear from you. To support the efforts of OCWA personnel, as well as the engineers and surveyors working on behalf of OCWA, we would appreciate any information you believe may be important for our project team to consider, including:
The existence of wells, septic systems, sprinkler systems, electronic dog fences, or other underground private utilities in or near the easement.
Planned property sale (so we can alert the new owners at the appropriate time) Identifying these items early on allows us to plan ahead. Our goal is to incorporate this information where practical during design, and work collaboratively to minimize impacts during construction.
How do I contact OCWA regarding this project?
To share the information requested above, please email us at projects@ocwa.org, or complete the short electronic form available on the project website (address and QR code below). You can also contact us at 315-455-7061, Ext. 3159. Continued communication is critical for the success of this project, and OCWA is committed to keeping you informed. Please do not hesitate to contact us at any time with questions or information about your property that you would like us to be made aware.
[Literal native PDF text; original page 2; source SHA256 fcb412d33575037b84fffa98d9fdc33f4bb62d2068ce3ec36ceaedf6f76b7cf4; extraction completeness unverified] Staying informed The dedicated project website (address and QR code below) will provide regular updates with the most current information, construction schedules, and progress updates. We encourage you to check this page regularly, particularly as the project moves from design into active construction. In support of sustainability, OCWA does not intend to send large quantities of mailings. Instead, we will utilize the website for regular project announcements. If any unique activities are set to occur near your property, you may receive a door hanger notice with specific details.
Thank you We appreciate your time and cooperation as we make this important investment in Central New York s water supply. It is our mission to provide safe, reliable and affordable water to residents, businesses and industries in Central New York in a manner protective of water resources and the environment.
HOW TO CONTACT OCWA QR Code Sincerely, Email: projects@ocwa.org (Link to Project Phone: 315-455-7061 Ext. 3159 Website) [Literal native PDF text; original page 2; source SHA256 fcb412d33575037b84fffa98d9fdc33f4bb62d2068ce3ec36ceaedf6f76b7cf4; extraction completeness unverified] Andrew Weiss, P.E. BCEE EASTERN BRANCH TRANSMISSION MAIN Director of Technical Services PROJECT WEBSITE https://www.ocwa.org/capital-improvements/ebtm/