The soil has been turned and now a multi-million dollar project to improve water quality in Jefferson County is officially underway.
A ground-breaking ceremony was held Monday at the Watertown International Airport to signal the start of construction.
The project, which costs $4.8 million, will build a brand new drinking water system in the town of Hounsfield.
"It's a great project...It's ensuring safe drinking, potable water for this region," said Matthew Driscoll, New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation chief executive officer.
"Commercially we now have an opportunity to do more development here at the airport. If you don't have water, you really can't building anything," said Stephen Lee, deputy supervisor for the town of Hounsfield.
Town officials expect the water line to be installed and homes hooked up by fall.
