The U.S. EPA has awarded New York State with $2.17 million in order to protect drinking water sources. The state is includes approximately 8,500 different public water systems for its population of 21 million.
The injection of funding will allow the water systems to better work towards compliance with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Specifically, the grant will be given to the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) under the Public Water System Supervision program.
“This grant supports our state partner by giving them the flexibility to administer and advance programs that will ensure New Yorker’s have quality drinking water,” said EPA Regional Administrator Pete Lopez.
Specifically, the funding will be used to inspect New York water systems for various potential deficiencies, assessing water systems, investigating customer complaints and solving any operational problems that may arise.
Grants made through the Public Water System Supervision program are used to all drinking water systems of any size are compliant with Safe Drinking Water Act standards. Funds are ordinarily put towards systems that are performing below the standards of the act.
