Cortlandt Manor, NY – New York State Senator Peter Harckham, Assemblymembers Steve Otis and Dana Levenberg, environmental advocates and labor leaders urged Governor Hochul today to “hold the line” and protect funding for state water infrastructure projects at last year’s budget levels.

Stressing the enormous need to upgrade water infrastructure in municipalities statewide, attendees at the press conference, including members of the New York Clean Water Coalition and the Construction Industry Council, called for a $500 million investment in the Clean Water Infrastructure Act in the upcoming Executive Budget proposal for FY2026-2027. 

“Aging water mains, lead pipes, outdated sewage treatment plants and contaminants put public health and clean drinking water supplies at risk,” Harckham. “New York’s clean water infrastructure funding helps keep our communities safe and habitable, all while ensuring the costs do not get passed on to ratepayers. Governor Hochul has been a good partner on clean water infrastructure funding, and we urge her to maintain the current funding level at $500 million in next year’s budget.”

Harckham added, “Fixing our pipes and treatment plants also creates thousands of good-paying jobs for union plumbers, laborers, operating engineers, and more each year. This has positive impacts on our local economies and encourages businesses to set up shop in places where they can rely on the infrastructure to provide clean water.”

Town of Cortlandt Supervisor Dr. Richard Becker hosted the press conference at the Valeria Wastewater Treatment Plant, where it was announced that Cortlandt is receiving $603,533 in low-cost financing from the state for construction and improvements at the treatment plant, which serves the Dickerson Pond Sewer District.

“We have three water projects going on simultaneously, none of which the Town of Cortlandt could afford, none of which the residents could afford,” said Dr. Becker. “But they’re all going to be solved with the help of our partners in New York State government, and we need to ensure that this kind of support remains in place for municipalities.” 

To see a video of today’s press conference, click here.

Since 2015, New York has invested over $6 billion in funding the state’s array of clean water programs to fund drinking water and wastewater infrastructure improvements. New York’s programs have been recognized as among the top state clean water programs in the country, with much of the funding delivered through the Environmental Facilities Corporation Inter-municipal Grants (IMG), NYS Green Innovation Grant Program (GIGP) and the NYS Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA) grant program. 

Assemblymember Steve Otis, a longtime advocate for clean water funding, said, “New York’s clean water programs are the most robust in the nation. Our WIIA and IMG programs alone have provided over $3 billion in grant funding to over 1100 projects statewide since 2015. Given the increasing burdens placed on local governments to fund water infrastructure projects for water quality and system capacity, we must maintain our $500 million funding level to clean water programs next year. Storm intensity and flood mitigation challenges continue to increase. Maintaining the clean water budget allocation, the Environmental Protection Fund, and the Bond Act programs are vital to address the increasing needs.”

Assemblymember Dana Levenberg said, “Water is essential. It is imperative that we continue helping municipalities maintain and upgrade clean water infrastructure without increasing the strain on local property taxpayers. Furthermore, we cannot expect to see growth in housing development if we cannot provide this support, and we need to increase housing starts if we are to bring down housing costs. No matter how challenging the upcoming budget year may be, clean water is not the place to make cuts. The Governor must include at least $500 million in her executive budget to fund allocations from the Clean Water Infrastructure Act.”

State Senator Shelley B. Mayer said, “I stand with Senator Harckham, my colleagues, and environmental advocates to fight for New York to maintain the $500 million investment for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act in the 2026-2027 State Budget. As we face increasingly severe and unpredictable weather conditions, we must make the necessary investments to ensure all New Yorkers have safe and reliable drinking water, and it is critical to ensure New York has at least the same amount of funding as last year to keep moving forward.”

New York’s longstanding commitment to clean water programs has protected public health, created thousands of union jobs, reduced the burden on local property taxpayers, and kept water bills affordable. Over $150 million has been dedicated to over 55 projects across Westchester County alone from the WIIA and IMG programs. 

In the FY2025-26 adopted state budget, the Governor and the Legislature maintained the statewide annual commitment at $500 million. The demands of local governments have increased to protect drinking water and to meet increasing standards for sanitary sewer system treatment. New challenges exist on issues including emerging contaminants and possible loss of federal dollars. 

In addition, local governments need more resources to comply with new federal regulations to make drinking water cleaner. The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently enacted landmark requirements for water utilities to remove toxic PFAS chemicals from drinking water and replace 100% of lead pipes nationwide. More funding for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act is needed to ensure utilities can make these essential improvements without sharply increasing water rates. The EPA estimates that over $80 billion is needed to repair New York’s aging and outdated water infrastructure. 

Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, said, “Clean water is a critical need in both good economic times and challenging economic times. It is a necessity not a luxury item. We’re calling on Governor Hochul to maintain the $500 million for clean water that will protect public health, our economy, and keep water affordable for all New Yorkers. Continued funding for clean water needs has already benefited New York but we have much more to do. We thank Senator Harkham for his leadership in continuing to address this urgent need.”

Jeremy Cherson, Associate Director of Government Affairs at Riverkeeper, said, “Maintaining $500 million in funding for clean water in the upcoming state budget is essential for keeping New Yorkers safe and our natural resources like the Hudson River and Furnace Brook healthy. This fall’s unprecedented harmful algal bloom on the Hudson demonstrates the continued need for these funds to help local governments clean up sewer overflows which help contribute to the conditions that make these blooms possible. Funding more infrastructure which helps keep human waste out of our waterways is non-negotiable. Riverkeeper thanks Senator Harckham for his steadfast commitment to clean water funding, and we look forward to standing with him and our allies to ensure these funds are top priority for Governor Hochul.”

Judith Hansen, Legislative Consultant for the New York Section American Water Works Association (NYSAWWA), said, “New Yorkers have the right to safe, clean water and a healthy environment at an affordable price. The water professionals throughout New York State are working each and every day toward that goal, but they need the state’s help to make it possible. At NYSAWWA, we not only thank the Senator and his colleagues for their efforts but also pledge to join them in this fight.”

John Cooney Jr., Executive Director of the Construction Industry Council of Westchester and Hudson Valley,  Inc., said, “The Construction Industry Council of Westchester and Hudson Valley, Inc., along with our partners in organized labor, thank State Senator Pete Harckham, Assemblymembers Dana Levenberg  and Steve Otis, as well as Town of Cortlandt Supervisor Dr. Richard Becker for their efforts in bringing a project like this one at the Valerie Treatment Plant to fruition. The need for modernization of municipal sewer and water facilities exceeds the ability of municipalities to fund projects. It is crucial that Governor Hochul maintains in her Executive Budget the $500 million investment in the Clean Water Infrastructure Act.”

David Ansel, vice president of the Center for Water Protection at Save the Sound: “Clean, healthy water is a fundamental human right, and the Clean Water Infrastructure Act plays a critical part in protecting clean water in New York. This essential funding enables communities in the Long Island Sound region and across the state to upgrade insufficient clean water infrastructure, reduce wastewater and stormwater pollution, and protect public and environmental health. We thank Senator Harckham, Assemblymember Otis, and Assemblymember Levenberg for championing clean water in New York State and for urging the Governor to continue to invest in New York communities by committing at least $500 million to the Clean Water Infrastructure Act in the next State Budget.”

Pat McClellan, Policy Director for the New York League of Conservation Voters, said, “Clean water is our most precious resource and with the federal government rolling back decades of environmental protections, the state must step up to protect New Yorkers. NYLCV urges Governor Hochul to include at least $500 million in Clean Water Infrastructure Act funding in her upcoming Executive Budget so we can modernize aging infrastructure, ensure our water is free from toxins, and protect New Yorkers' health. We applaud Senator Harckham for championing investments to keep our water safe and our communities healthy.”