Brady PieperNew York is providing nearly $90 million in state-funded grants to support projects enhancing drinking water infrastructure around the state. This funding will target projects focused on identifying and replacing lead service lines threatening residents’ drinking water in disadvantaged and underserved communities.
This funding is intended to supplement costs associated with existing lead service line replacement projects that previously received financing through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the State’s Water Infrastructure grant program, but whose expenses were not fully covered. Taking the fiscal pressure off, New York will provide communities financial assistance to expedite more lead service line replacements without incurring additional costs.
RELATED: EPA administers $3 billion to replace lead pipes nationwide
Lead, a harmful neurotoxin, often enters drinking water through corroded plumbing that contains the element, especially in homes built before 1986. Lead service lines – pipes that connect homes to water mains – are a primary source of lead contamination. Older cities and residences in underserved and disadvantaged communities are more likely to contain these pipes, posing health risks to vulnerable populations.
The state grants will be specifically provided to projects in historically disadvantaged communities, prioritizing areas where the median household incomes fall below 80% of the regionally adjusted statewide average, where local poverty rates exceed statewide averages or communities where at least 50% of the projects will serve environmental justice initiatives.
The full list of projects receiving grants from the state include:
- Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens (New York City) – $28 million
- City of Rochester – $28 million
- City of Syracuse – $12.75 million
- Village of Herkimer – $3.96 million
- City of Albany – $3.86 million
- City of Troy – $3.84 million
- Gloversville Water Works – $2.31 million
- Village of Ilion – $1.22 million
- Village of Ogdensburg – $688,300
- Village of Bath – $468,300
- Village of Catskill – $106,545
In conjunction with this grant announcement, the New York State Department of Health is allocating $1 million from the BIL to offer technical and engineering assistance to 10 New York communities. The communities set to receive a portion of this funding will secure assistance with lead service line identification, inventory planning, records review, public outreach and related support.
These 10 communities include: Clayton, Diana, Lake Luzerne, New Berlin, Sackets Harbor, Kinderhook, Millerton, New Paltz, Ravena and Rutland.
Both announcements support New York’s commitment to enhancing water quality. Boasting nation-leading investments in water infrastructure, the state has supplied more than $2.2 billion in financial assistance for local water infrastructure projects in Fiscal Year 2024. Since 2017, New York has invested a total of $5.5 billion into water infrastructure projects that protect residents’ drinking water, improve wastewater management and modernization or replacement lead service lines throughout the state.
Photo courtesy IntangibleArts
