Supports Public Health and Water Infrastructure in Historically Underserved Communities Statewide
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced nearly $90 million in State grants awarded to communities across New York State to improve their drinking water infrastructure by identifying and replacing lead service lines. This funding demonstrates the State’s ongoing commitment to protecting public health and drinking water for New Yorkers.
“When it comes to New York’s water infrastructure, we’re getting the lead out,” Governor Hochul said. “Keeping New Yorkers safe is my top priority – and by giving communities the support needed to replace lead service lines, we’re helping to safeguard public drinking water for generations to come.”
Lead is harmful to human health and can enter drinking water when plumbing materials that contain lead corrode, especially where the water has high acidity or low mineral content that corrodes pipes and fixtures. The most common sources of lead in drinking water are lead pipes, faucets, and fixtures. In homes with lead pipes that connect the home to the water main, also known as lead services lines, these pipes are typically the most significant source of lead in the water. Lead pipes are more likely to be found in older cities and homes built before 1986.
The State funding awarded today will be used by municipalities to help cover the costs of lead service line replacement projects that received financing through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) but whose costs were not fully covered by BIL grants. This funding comes in addition to the funding already allocated through the BIL and the State’s Water Infrastructure grant program. This unprecedented move takes the fiscal pressure off communities, allowing them to replace more lead service lines without incurring additional costs. The State’s comprehensive approach continues to provide communities with the resources they need to improve their water infrastructure.
The State funding awarded today is also specifically targeted for historically disadvantaged communities. The awards prioritize communities that meet one or more of the following criteria:
- The community’s median household income is less than 80 percent of the regionally adjusted statewide median household income
- The community’s local poverty rate is higher than the statewide poverty rate
- At least 50 percent of the community’s lead service line project serves an environmental justice community
A list of communities receiving these awards can be found below:
- New York City (Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens), $28,000,000
- City of Rochester, $28,000,000
- City of Syracuse, $12,756,047
- Village of Herkimer, $3,962,616
- City of Albany, $3,859,328
- City of Troy, $3,846,900
- Gloversville Water Works, $2,310,445
- Village of Ilion, $1,221,477
- Village of Ogdensburg, $688,300
- Village of Bath, $468,300
- Village of Catskill, $106,545
Additionally, the New York State Department of Health is using $1 million from BIL funds to provide engineering and technical assistance for lead service line identification to 10 communities. The state contracted with engineering firms to provide assistance including inventory planning, records review, public outreach and other support. The communities receiving this assistance include:
- Clayton
- Diana
- Lake Luzerne
- New Berlin
- Sackets Harbor
- Kinderhook
- Millerton
- New Paltz
- Ravena
- Rutland
State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “This additional state funding represents the continued commitment of Governor Hochul and the New York State Department of Health to safeguard the drinking water of all New Yorkers by eliminating lead pipes in water delivery lines. Access to safe and clean water is fundamental to good health, and New York is committed to removing health disparities by targeted funding for underserved communities so that we may all be afforded that same right.”
Environmental Facilities Corporation President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman said, “Getting the lead out of our drinking water supply is a priority for New York State. Under the leadership of Governor Hochul, EFC and our partners in federal, state, and local government are working to ensure that communities across New York receive the financial support they need to undertake critical lead service replacement projects without overburdening local ratepayers.”
New York State’s Lead Service Line Replacement Program has invested $30 million to identify and replace lead service lines across the State. To date, $22 million has been spent through the program replacing 3,439 lead service lines in New York.
New York’s Commitment to Water Quality
New York State continues to increase its nation-leading investments in water infrastructure, including more than $2.2 billion in financial assistance from EFC for local water infrastructure projects in State Fiscal Year 2024 alone. With $500 million allocated for clean water infrastructure in the FY25 Enacted Budget announced by Governor Hochul, New York will have invested a total of $5.5 billion in water infrastructure between 2017 and this year. Governor Hochul’s State of the State initiatives are helping to ensure ongoing coordination with local governments and ensure communities can leverage these investments. The Governor increased WIIA grants for wastewater projects from 25 to 50 percent of net eligible project costs for smaller, disadvantaged communities. The Governor also expanded EFC’s Community Assistance Teams to help small, rural and disadvantaged communities leverage this funding and address their clean water infrastructure needs. Any community that needs help with its water infrastructure is encouraged to contact EFC.
The funding, in addition to other substantial water quality investments, includes the voter-approved $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022 which is advancing historic levels of funding to update aging water infrastructure and protect water quality, strengthen communities' ability to withstand severe storms and flooding, reduce air pollution and lower climate-altering emissions, restore habitats; and preserve outdoor spaces and local farms. The first round of funding under the Environmental Bond Act was awarded through the WIIA/IMG programs in December, when Governor Hochul announced $479 million in grants to 156 projects across New York State, including $309 million made available to disadvantaged communities. Disadvantaged Communities will receive at least 35 percent of the benefits of Bond Act funding, with a goal of 40 percent.
About the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Lead Service Line Replacement Funding
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests a historic $15 billion nationwide to identify and replace lead service lines. The law mandates that 49 percent of DWSRF LSLR funds must be provided as grants or loan forgiveness to disadvantaged communities, a crucial investment for communities that have been underinvested in for far too long. EPA projects a national total of 9 million lead service lines across the country, based on data collected from the updated Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment. The funding will be provided specifically for lead service line identification and replacement and will help New York fund projects to remove lead pipes and reduce exposure to lead from drinking water. To ensure that funding is used for lead service line related activities in the states with the most need, LSLR allotments are based on need – meaning that states with more projected lead service lines receive proportionally more LSLRfunding.
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