ALBANY – The federal government provides $500 million for the state to replace lead water lines to residences, but that is not enough to correct the contamination problem, so Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson (D, Newburgh) is seeking another $50 million in the Assembly budget bill to help cover the costs.
“This program provides up to $10,000 to each homeowner to replace a contaminated line,” he said. “The problem with lead-contaminated lines affects almost all municipalities in the state which have older water systems.”
Lead service lines “pose one of the greatest threats to New York’s drinking water,” said Rob Hayes, director of Clean Water with Environmental advocates NY. “The longer lead pipes remain in he ground, the longer that New Yorkers will be exposed to a dangerous neurotoxin when they turn on the tap.”
