New York state officials announced Friday that 16 additional municipalities will receive free technical assistance through a statewide initiative focused on protecting public drinking water sources from contamination and long-term environmental threats.
The expansion of the Drinking Water Source Protection Program, known as DWSP2, was announced by the state Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Health. The program helps municipalities identify vulnerabilities in their drinking water systems and develop plans to protect water supplies before contamination occurs.
The newest municipalities joining the program include the cities of Dunkirk, Elmira, Glen Cove, Little Falls and Saratoga Springs; the towns of Cazenovia, Keene and Saugerties; and the villages of Chester, Delhi, Fonda, Middleburgh, Montgomery, Saugerties, Voorheesville and Woodbury.
State officials said the participating communities will receive technical assistance at no cost through partnerships involving DEC, DOH, the Department of Agriculture and Markets, and the Department of State.
“With the success of the Drinking Water Source Protection Program, New York under Governor Hochul is helping more communities across the state receive free technical assistance that protects public drinking water and conserves water supplies for future generations,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said in a statement.
The program, launched in 2021, now includes 117 municipalities statewide.
Several Finger Lakes communities are already participating in the initiative, including the cities of Auburn, Geneva and Ithaca, along with the Village of Montour Falls and Town of Hector. Wayne County’s Village of Sodus is also part of the program.
According to the state, municipalities participating in DWSP2 work with technical assistance providers to assess risks to drinking water supplies, identify contamination threats and develop long-term protection strategies.
Potential actions can include public education campaigns, land conservation efforts near water sources, local zoning protections, infrastructure planning and intermunicipal agreements focused on water quality protection.
Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said the planning support allows municipalities to tackle complex drinking water protection issues that might otherwise be difficult to address locally.
“Technical support through the Drinking Water Source Protection Program enables municipalities to navigate the planning process for critically important projects that will safeguard the health of their community,” McDonald said.
State agencies also announced updates to the program’s 2025 guidance framework, which municipalities and technical assistance providers use when developing local source water protection plans.
New York officials said the state has invested roughly $6 billion in water infrastructure projects since 2017, with additional funding proposed through the Environmental Protection Fund and Clean Water Infrastructure programs.
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