Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the town of Cairo and village of Athens are looking at state funding options for water infrastructure improvements. Both municipalities will hold public hearings in the coming week about pursuing Community Development Block Grants for that purpose. Cairo Town Supervisor John Coyne met with U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado, last week and discussed funding needs for the town’s water system. “We need funding to finish upgrading our water system so people have quality water that’s not going through pipes that are I don’t know how old,” Coyne said. Town officials Tue., Feb. 9, will hear public comment on the plan that will target aging pipes on Jerome Avenue. The hearing will begin at 7 p.m. and be conducted via Zoom. Athens is also looking to secure funding for water improvements. “Athens is like many small towns, in that our water, sewer and storm water pipes are for the most part 90 to 100 years old,” Conservation Advisory Council chairman Joshua Lipsman said. Grant funding would allow the village to create a plan to address the water distribution system, sewer collection system and storm water, according to the public hearing announcement. Athen's public hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m. Wed., Feb. 10, via Zoom. The village of Catskill plans to replace the water main on Main Street in the summer of 2022, Village Vice President Joseph Kozloski said. The village received a $3 million Water Infrastructure Improvement Act grant for the project and will have to issue a bond for the remaining $3 million, he said. The project will also include establishing a settling pond at the water treatment plant, Kozloski said. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.