Water News

The $3 billion Environmental Bond Actwill provide $550 million for open space land conservation and recreation projects if approved by voters this fall.

The Environmental Bond Act, officially known as the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Bond Act, will be on the ballot November 8 (with early voting starting Oct. 29), giving New Yorkers the opportunity to pass the state’s first environmental bond initiative this century.

Green infrastructure includes projects that mimic the natural environment to manage stormwater runoff, improve air quality, and cool temperatures throughout the city to mitigate the urban heat island effect. 

With bipartisan support from a group of 59 Senate co-sponsors including the Majority Leader and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer as well as President Trump, “The Great American Outdoors Act,” if passed, would provide full dedicated funding for the LWCF and address the maintenance backlog in America’s national parks and other public lands.

During the General Election in November, New Yorkers will be able to vote to approve the Bond Act, which would be hugely advantageous for sustainability and resiliency efforts in New York. 

A combination of the words fat and iceberg, fatbergs are large masses of common household trash items that do not belong in the water works including cleaning wipes, grease, and various personal hygiene products. Improper disposal means clogged pipes, sewage backups, damaged equipment at wastewater treatment plants.

New York State passed a strong, pro-environment budget last week. It includes policies we have been advocating for over many years and included as top priorities in this year's State Policy Agenda.

In 2016, New York State enacted the toughest law in the nation to protect public school children from exposure to elevated levels of lead in their drinking water. A new bill introduced in the New York State legislature is proposing to make public school drinking water safer and freer of lead by tightening of existing regulations.