A Growing Need for New York’s Water Infrastructure Funding

For Immediate Release: February 14, 2020

A Growing Need for New York’s Water Infrastructure Funding

 While more than $773 million went to nearly 500 projects between 2015 and 2018; 

Over 150 projects in 2018 were put on hold simply due to insufficient funds

Albany – Today, Environmental Advocates of New York released a new report that examines spending under the state’s Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA). Untapped Potential: New York’s Growing Water Infrastructure Need shows that a large disparity exists between water infrastructure needs and available funding in New York State. Every year, just half of shovel-ready projects with complete applications are being awarded grants and the other half go unfunded.

We all deserve clean water. Unfortunately, New Yorkers access to clean water is at risk from crumbling drinking and wastewater infrastructure, said Maureen Cunningham, senior director for clean water for Environmental Advocates of New York. “New York needs to recognize the severity of the problem and invest at least $1 billion in new water infrastructure funding in this year’s state budget.”

The report found that more than $773 million was distributed to nearly 500 projects in 57 out of 62 counties between 2015 and 2018. But despite this, roughly half of shovel-ready projects went un-awarded in 2018, due to a lack of available funding.

“New York has some of the oldest water infrastructure in the country, which will cost at least $80 billion to fix,” Cunningham said. “Add to that the approaching threats of emerging contaminants and lead service lines that will only add to costs, and it is clear that New York State has barely scratched the surface of what is needed to fix our pipes.”

The report also noted that New York’s water infrastructure grants created 20,000 jobs in 2019 alone, and each public dollar spent on water infrastructure yields $2.62 in economic output in other industries.

Even more detailed information about which local governments have received funding in each county can be found in EANY’s county factsheets.

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Below is a list of the 57 counties that were awarded WIIA grants between 2015 and 2018, as well as grant dollars that were requested by shovel-ready but un-awarded applications in 2018.

Capital Region

County Grant Dollars Awarded, 2015-2018 Grant Dollars Requested by Shovel-Ready but Un-awarded Applications, 2018
Albany $32,786,555 $1,250,160
Greene $17,923,749 $2,000,000
Columbia $3,409,180 $3,918,800
Schenectady $12,633,295 $2,082,000
Rensselaer $26,839,039 $3,000,000
Saratoga $23,073,410 $1,122,200
Warren $7,146,383 $8,118,084
Washington $7,675,923 $2,766,698

 

Hudson Valley

County Grant Dollars Awarded, 2015-2018 Grant Dollars Requested by Shovel-Ready but Un-awarded Applications, 2018
Dutchess $38,595,730 $7,830,761
Sullivan $9,601,975 $0
Ulster $7,453,900 $4,636,780
Orange $28,535,258 $26,775,044
Putnam $215,000 $229,260
Rockland $5,671,865 $5,875,000
Westchester $28,625,929 $21,349,618

 

Central NY

County Grant Dollars Awarded, 2015-2018 Grant Dollars Requested by Shovel-Ready but Un-awarded Applications, 2018
Oswego $24,048,868 $4,904,158
Onondaga $9,873,365 $9,265,000
Cayuga $8,092,057 $580,780
Madison $10,464,589 $0
Cortland $3,752,028 $2,582,000

 

Finger Lakes

County Grant Dollars Awarded, 2015-2018 Grant Dollars Requested by Shovel-Ready but Un-awarded Applications, 2018
Orleans $2,867,545 $540,188
Genesee $7,849,300 $0
Monroe $3,000,000 $11,251,800
Livingston $6,498,734 $0
Wyoming $6,066,624 $2,992,950
Wayne $16,044,200 $1,572,000
Ontario $15,656,815 $9,177,000
Yates $2,513,564 $0
Seneca $8,924,935 $0

 

Southern Tier

County Grant Dollars Awarded, 2015-2018 Grant Dollars Requested by Shovel-Ready but Un-awarded Applications, 2018
Broome $29,781,250 $72,000
Chemung $1,415,000 $0
Chenango $5,506,013 $728,000
Delaware $10,502,244 $1,200,000
Otsego $6,349,348 $0
Schuyler $5,925,975 $0
Steuben $15,088,087 $5,722,500
Tioga $6,982,952 $2,073,535
Tompkins $7,369,700 $4,487,520

 

Western NY

County Grant Dollars Awarded, 2015-2018 Grant Dollars Requested by Shovel-Ready but Un-awarded Applications, 2018
Allegany $5,970,350 $0
Cattaraugus $12,086,174 $2,345,103
Chautauqua $20,294,571 4,125,000
Erie $30,632,366 $11,535,534
Niagara $8,863,878 $6,448,460

 

North Country

County Grant Dollars Awarded, 2015-2018 Grant Dollars Requested by Shovel-Ready but Un-awarded Applications, 2018
Clinton $11,287,917 $6,000,000
Essex $16,950,187 $0
Franklin $8,690,371 $0
Hamilton $450,000 $0
Jefferson $25,763,753 $5,488,050
Lewis $14,010,954 $283,200
St. Lawrence $14,243,825 $3,911,700

 

Mohawk Valley

County Grant Dollars Awarded, 2015-2018 Grant Dollars Requested by Shovel-Ready but Un-awarded Applications, 2018
Fulton $5,209,200 $407,700
Herkimer $6,434,499 $1,050,000
Montgomery $10,808,000 $0
Oneida $37,164,662 $0
Otsego $6,349,348 $0
Schoharie $13,210,550 $1,800,000

 

Long Island

County Grant Dollars Awarded, 2015-2018 Grant Dollars Requested by Shovel-Ready but Un-awarded Applications, 2018
Nassau $41,882,251 $35,068,189
Suffolk $24,669,884 $5,512,705