New York State Senator Peter Harckham and State Assemblymember Steve Otis joined labor unions, local leaders, and environmental organizations at the Ossining Water Treatment Plan today to urge Governor Hochul to continue New York’s commitment to clean water programs in the upcoming state budget. Attendees, including members of the New York Clean Water Coalition, called on the Governor to invest $600 million in the Clean Water Infrastructure Act in her executive budget proposal for FY2025-2026.
“Now is the time to increase the state’s commitment in safeguarding our fragile drinking water supplies and water infrastructure,” said State Senator Harckham. “We have heard from municipalities statewide that crucial investments need to be in the budget from the start. Here in Ossining, state investments have been made to improve drinking water supplies, delivery systems and filtration facilities. But more is needed. Simply, clean water infrastructure funding helps keep our communities safe and habitable, all while ensuring the costs do not get passed on to ratepayers.”
Harckham noted that clean water infrastructure investments are public works projects with public service, union jobs that receive prevailing wages, and added, “This $600 million investment will be a real boost and investment in the economy of Main Street,” he said.
“New York’s clean water programs have helped fund water quality programs that would not have been possible without the significant and consistent state commitment to support these efforts,” said Assemblymember Steve Otis. “To maintain the momentum, we need an increase in the state contribution to make these projects affordable for local governments, water authorities, and sewer districts. Senator Harckham and our partners in labor, public health, and environmental advocacy agree that the time to increase New York State’s funding is now.”
Since 2015, New York has invested over $3 billion in funding the state’s array of clean water programs to fund drinking water and wastewater infrastructure improvements, like water main replacements, sewage treatment plant upgrades, and more. New York’s programs have been recognized as the most robust state clean water programs in the country. Locally, the Indian Brook Water Treatment Plant serving the town and village of Ossining was recently awarded $3 million from the NYS Green Innovation Grant Program (GIGP) and $10 million from the NYS Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA) grant program.
New York’s longstanding commitment to clean water programs has protected public health, created thousands of union jobs, reduced the burden on local property taxpayers, and kept water bills affordable. Over $132 million has been dedicated to over 50 projects across Westchester County from the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA) and Intermunicipal Grant (IMG) programs alone.
In the 2024-25 adopted state budget, the Governor and the Legislature maintained the statewide annual commitment at $500 million. The demands on local governments have increased to protect drinking water and to meet increasing standards for sanitary sewer system treatment. New challenges exist on issues including emerging contaminants and possible loss of federal dollars.
In addition, local governments need more resources to comply with new federal regulations to make drinking water cleaner. EPA recently enacted landmark requirements for water utilities to remove toxic PFAS chemicals from drinking water and replace 100% of lead pipes nationwide. More funding for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act is needed to ensure utilities can make these essential improvements without sharply increasing water rates. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that over $80 billion is needed to repair New York’s aging and outdated water infrastructure.
Given the enormous needs, Senator Harckham, Assemblyman Otis, other elected officials, and advocates are now urging Governor Hochul to include a $100 million increase of this funding line in the 2025-26 proposed state budget. The $600 million total would be the first increase in this vital program since 2017.
Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE), said, “Adequately treating our wastewater and providing clean drinking water are critical societal needs. Communities throughout New York are being exposed to PFAS and other toxic contamination in drinking water, excessive nitrogen pollution from inadequately treated sewage is causing harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, sink holes and water main breaks are becoming more frequent, lead pipes need to be replaced, and aging infrastructure is allowing sewage to leak into the Hudson River other treasured water bodies. The longer we wait to fix the problem, the more expensive these problems will be. In a time when the public can seem divided on many issues, one thing we all agree on is the compelling need for clean water.”
Esposito continued, “CCE thanks Senator Harckham and Assemblyman Otis for their continued leadership in the fight for clean water and we are proud to join them in urging Governor Hochul to include $600 million in her Executive Budget for clean water infrastructure next year.”
Rob Hayes, Senior Director of Clean Water with Environmental Advocates NY, said, “We applaud Senator Harckham and Assemblymember Otis for championing investments to protect our drinking water. Increasing funding for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act will help communities afford to replace dangerous lead pipes, clean up toxic PFAS pollution, and much more. These projects are a win-win for public health and our economy, with thousands of good-paying union jobs created. We urge Governor Hochul to include $600 million for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act in her upcoming budget proposal.”
Tracy Brown, President of Riverkeeper, said, “Looking ahead, it is critical that the upcoming state budget prioritize investment in clean water infrastructure by increasing the landmark Clean Water Infrastructure Act to $600 million. New York’s water infrastructure urgently needs updates to aging drinking water systems, sewers, and wastewater treatment plants, that are essential to the health and safety of our communities and the Hudson River. These needs grow every year, and with access to federal funding at risk, New York State must rise to the occasion to meet escalating uncertainty from Washington, D.C. Increasing funding will ensure more communities can access the grants they need to provide clean drinking water and restore local waterways, safeguarding New York’s future.”
David Ansel, Vice President of Water Protection, Save the Sound, said, “The Clean Water Infrastructure Act is a critical source of funds for New York State to invest in clean water programs and infrastructure. New York’s outdated drinking water and wastewater infrastructure is a massive multi-billion-dollar challenge. We urge Governor Hochul to commit $600 million in the FY 2025-2026 budget to ensure the public health and safety of New Yorkers in the Long Island Sound region and across the state.”
State Senator Shelley B. Mayer said, “I stand with Senator Harckham, my colleagues, and environmental advocates to fight for a $600 investment in the Clean Water Infrastructure Act in the NYS Executive Budget. This substantial investment in safe and reliable drinking water infrastructure is critical for all our communities. We must do better for New Yorkers in the coming year and ensure this full amount of funding is included in the final adopted budget.”
Assemblymember MaryJane Shimsky said, “Providing safe drinking water to New York’s residents is one of our fundamental responsibilities. Given the size and age of our system, we cannot afford to put off investments in our reservoirs, water treatment plants, and sewers. The State made good progress toward that end last year, and I join my colleagues in asking Governor Hochul to build on that commitment with a $600 million investment in clean water funding in the 2025-2026 State Budget.”
Elizabeth Feldman, Ossining Town Supervisor, said, “Access to clean water is an essential element for every community. The cost of maintaining old systems or building new ones to meet the increased regulations is astronomical. Now that we have new requirements to deal with PFAS and also to replace all lead services the need for water infrastructure funding is greater than ever. Not having access to water infrastructure funding passes the huge financial burden onto our taxpayers many of whom are already struggling to keep up.”
Rika Levin, Mayor of the Villag of Ossining, said, “As Mayor of Ossining, I fully support this critical investment in clean water infrastructure. Clean water is not just an environmental necessity—it’s a public health imperative and an economic driver. Investing $600 million in the Clean Water Infrastructure Act will ensure our communities have access to safe, reliable water systems, while also creating good-paying jobs and strengthening our local economy. This is an investment in our future that we cannot afford to delay.”
Len Simon, Deputy Mayor of Croton-on-Hudson, said, “In Croton-on-Hudson, clean water is the key to our future success as a community. It will define what we can achieve for our residents in housing, economic development, sustainability, health and so many other areas. We also know that in Croton the clean water progress we need cannot be achieved alone – it will take partnerships and leadership at the State level. That’s why we are so grateful to Senator Pete Harckham, as chair of the Environmental Conservation Committee, for leading the call for a $600 million investment in clean water infrastructure in the State’s 2025-26 budget.”
