MIDDLETOWN – An appropriation of $800,000 is making its way through a House of Representatives committee and the funding is targeting to be applied to the cost of the new $15.5 million water treatment plant under construction for Middletown.

Congressman Maurice Hinchey, who is “fairly confident” that the funding will make it through the entire congressional process, made the announcement with city officials at the plant site outside Middletown on Monday.

He chided the current administration in Washington, saying officials have held back on important domestic funding like this.

“I am anticipating a new administration, which will keep in mind the needs of the people of the United States, and the basic fundamental needs like good, high quality water to supply for cities and other communities, and the need to treat sewage and other waste materials.”

The new plant, when completed, will process five million gallons of water per day and that will be coupled with a four year old package plant that processes 1.5 million gallons per day. The current plant, which is 100 years old, can handle seven million gallons per day.

The remainder of the funding for the new plant is coming from the state’s infrastructure revolving loan fund and bonding.

Middletown is also building a $30 million sewer plant to replace an outdated system.