New York State has awarded more than $130 million in grants to help communities identify and replace lead service lines, including nearly $1.1 million for the town of Seneca Falls.
The grants will cover loan portions of water projects after completion, reducing the amount local ratepayers must repay while communities address a major source of lead exposure in drinking water.
The awards are part of the state's Lead Infrastructure Forgiveness and Transformation initiative, known as LIFT. The program combines state grants with federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding for lead service line inventory and replacement work.
Federal law requires a portion of that infrastructure funding to be issued as loans. Under LIFT, state grants repay the loan share for selected communities once their projects are completed, effectively converting the full funding package to grant support.
Seneca Falls among 10 recipients
Seneca Falls was awarded $1,088,710. Other recipients are the Albany Municipal Water Finance Authority, $4,252,531; Glens Falls, $535,540; Johnson City, $3,687,000; Little Falls, $2,862,300; the Mohawk Valley Water Authority, $3,304,950; the Niagara Falls Water Board, $1,464,487; Port Jervis, $13,400,768; Poughkeepsie, $14 million; and New York City, $14 million for projects in Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island.
The state said the awards prioritize communities whose median household income is below 80% of the regionally adjusted statewide median or whose poverty rate exceeds the statewide rate. Officials said those communities can face particular difficulty taking on debt for long-delayed water infrastructure work.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said the grants are intended to protect drinking water without forcing communities to choose between public health improvements and unaffordable debt.
Why service lines matter
Lead can enter drinking water when service lines, faucets and fixtures corrode, especially where water has high acidity or low mineral content. Service lines connecting homes to water mains are typically the largest source of lead in drinking water, and lead plumbing is more likely in older cities and homes built before 1986.
New York State Health Commissioner James McDonald said replacing those lines will reduce exposure and help more residents gain access to safe drinking water. Environmental Facilities Corporation President Maureen Coleman said the financing structure allows communities to make needed upgrades without placing the full cost on households.
New York has awarded more than $600 million in federal infrastructure funding for lead service line inventory and replacement since 2022, including $310 million in grants and $295 million in loans. Since Hochul launched LIFT in 2024, the state has awarded more than $290 million through the program for loan forgiveness, including the latest grants.
The grants are part of a broader state water infrastructure effort. New York has committed $10.6 billion to clean water infrastructure projects since 2021, and the fiscal year 2027 budget includes a $3.75 billion investment plan.
The Environmental Facilities Corporation is reviewing applications for $425 million made available through the first installment of that plan. A portion of that funding is reserved for additional lead service line inventory and replacement projects.
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