By Assemblyman Will Barclay
Flint, Michigan, has been in the news lately because dangerously high lead levels were discovered in its drinking water. Sadly, Flint’s contaminated water could have been prevented with better oversight and management at all levels of government, but the issue cast a light on our drinking water — one of our most valuable natural resources.
Problems with contaminated drinking water are not limited to Flint, Michigan. New York also has recently had its own issue in Hoosick Falls, a village 40 miles northeast of Albany. There, carcinogens were discovered in the water believed to have been emitted from a nearby plastics plant. The contaminants were found after a former employee of the plastics plant fell ill and eventually succumbed to kidney cancer believed to have been caused by overexposure to the carcinogen known as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). A local doctor also noticed a higher-than-usual rate of aggressive types of cancer in the village and together, with relatives of the deceased employee, they began to pressure public officials to address this health concern. After some apparent foot-dragging, the state declared Hoosick Falls a Superfund site and New York now has contributed $10 million to clean up its drinking water.
Fortunately, the water quality problems being experienced in Flint and Hoosick Falls are rare and generally our drinking water is safe. But the responsibility of local municipalities to provide safe drinking water is expensive. Aging infrastructure and mandated requirements are burdensome on localities and their taxpayers, and local representatives often advocate for increased funding opportunities.
Fortunately, due to these efforts, we have been able to push this issue in the state legislature, and the governor has made water and sewer more of a priority in recent years. This year’s budget dedicated an additional $200 million for water and sewer improvement grants statewide under the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act. This is on top of last year’s $200 million allocation so the total amount now allocated from 2015-18 will be $400 million.
The state Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) is responsible for administering the grants awarded under the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act. Municipalities seeking funding should apply to the EFC. A deadline to apply was recently extended to June 20.
In addition to ensuring safe drinking water, the state also needs to continue to help municipalities replace their aging infrastructure so they can avoid reacting to reoccurring water and sewer main breaks.
To this end, I co-sponsor legislation that would create a Safe Water Infrastructure Action Program. This legislation would provide $200 million in annual funding so municipalities could swap out old, deteriorating pipes and water mains. This funding would be allocated in the same manner in which money under the state’s highly successful consolidated highway improvement program is allocated.
This legislation and programs like the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act will go a long ways towards helping our municipalities fulfill their obligation to provide safe, clean water to their constituents and prevent tragedies like those that have happened in Flint and Hoosick Falls from reoccurring.
If you have any questions or comments or if you would like to be added to my mailing list or receive my newsletter, please contact my office by mail at 200 N. Second St., Fulton, NY 13069, by email at [email protected] or by calling 598-5185.
