Senate Bill S10395

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   10395
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 15, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  BYNOE  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
 
 AN ACT to amend the  environmental  conservation  law,  in  relation  to
   creating  a  public  education program concerning water use reduction;
   and expanding the water conservation manual

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Subdivision  8  of  section  15-1501 of the environmental
 conservation law, as added by chapter  401  of  the  laws  of  2011,  is
 amended to read as follows:
   8.  The department shall establish a water conservation and efficiency
 program with the goals of (a) ensuring improvement  of  the  waters  and
 water  dependent  natural  resources,  (b)  protecting and restoring the
 hydrologic and ecosystem integrity of watersheds throughout  the  state,
 (c)  retaining  the  quantity  of  surface  water and groundwater in the
 state, (d) ensuring sustainable use of state waters, and  (e)  promoting
 the  efficiency  of  use  and  reducing losses and waste of water.   FOR
 COMMUNITIES THAT RELY ON GROUNDWATER AS THEIR WATER SUPPLY, AND  ARE  AT
 RISK  FROM  SALTWATER INTRUSION, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVELOP AND IMPLE-
 MENT A PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM TO EXPLAIN TO WATER USERS IN ALL SECTORS
 THE NECESSITY OF WATER USE REDUCTION.   SUCH PROGRAM SHALL  EXPLAIN  THE
 LIMITATIONS  AND DESCRIBE EFFECTIVE ACTIONS TO ENSURE THE SUSTAINABILITY
 OF THE WATER SUPPLY.
   § 2.  Paragraph g of subdivision 2 of section 15-1503 of the  environ-
 mental conservation law, as added by chapter 401 of the laws of 2011, is
 amended to read as follows:
   g.  the proposed water withdrawal will be implemented in a manner that
 incorporates  environmentally  sound  and  economically  feasible  water
 conservation  measures, INCLUDING MANDATING USE OF SMART CONTROLLERS FOR
 AUTOMATIC IRRIGATION SYSTEMS; and
   § 3. Subdivision 3 of section 15-1503 of the  environmental  conserva-
 tion  law,  as amended by chapter 401 of the laws of 2011, is amended to
 read as follows:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD15866-02-6
              

 S. 10395                            2
 
   3. In order to assist the  development  of  local  water  conservation
 programs  for public water supply systems, the department shall continue
 to publish and distribute a  water  conservation  manual  that  includes
 beneficial  near term and long range water conservation procedures which
 reflect local water resource needs and conditions.  SUCH WATER CONSERVA-
 TION  MANUAL  SHALL  BE  REVISED AND UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS. THE FIRST
 UPDATE SHALL BE PUBLISHED IN TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-EIGHT  AND  THEN  EVERY
 FIVE YEARS THEREAFTER. Such manual shall include examples of:
   a.  methods  of  identifying and determining the cost effectiveness of
 distribution system rehabilitation to correct sources of lost water;
   b. measures which encourage proper maintenance and water conservation;
   c. a public information program to promote water conservation, includ-
 ing industrial and commercial recycling and reuse;
   d. household conservation measures; [and]
   e. contingency measures for limiting  water  use  during  seasonal  or
 drought shortages[.], AND LOCAL EMERGENCIES OR DISASTERS;
   F.  BEST  MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR SPECIFIC SECTORS OF THE WATER-USING
 COMMUNITY DESIGNED  TO  INCREASE  ENGAGEMENT  AND  SPECIFIC  ACTIONS  TO
 INCREASE WATER CONSERVATION;
   G. RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO WATER IRRIGATION PRACTICES; AND
   H.  REBATE  PROGRAMS TO OFFSET THE COST OF SMART CONTROLLERS FOR AUTO-
 MATIC IRRIGATION SYSTEMS REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH G OF SUBDIVISION  TWO  OF
 THIS SECTION.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.