New York City Watershed Program
In 1995, New York City, the upstate communities, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and members of the environmental community joined in an historic partnership to protect drinking water for New York City and avoid the need for filtration. The landmark New York City Watershed Agreement was signed in January 1997.
Drinking water for New York City comes from reservoirs in a nearly 2,000-acre watershed located in Delaware, Greene, Schoharie, Ulster, Sullivan, Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties. Together, these reservoirs provide about 1.4 billion gallons of drinking water per day.
Spillway at eastern end of
Rondout reservoir system.
The Delaware system is located primarily in Delaware, Ulster, and Sullivan counties and provides approximately 50 percent of the city's daily demand for water. It was constructed in the 1950s and 1960s and is comprised of four reservoirs, including the Cannonsville Reservoir.
The Croton system is located east of the Hudson River and is comprised of 12 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes, including the New Croton Reservoir in Westchester County. Approximately 10 percent of the city's average daily water demand is supplied by the Croton system.
The Catskill system was constructed in the early part of the 20th century and is located west of the Hudson River in Ulster, Schoharie, Delaware, and Greene Counties. It is composed of two reservoirs, the Schoharie and the Ashokan. The Catskill system supplies, on average, 40 percent of the city's daily water supply.
Water Quality Improvement Projects: New York City Watershed Protection Program
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is announcing $3 million dollars in funding for water quality improvement projects addressing protection and enhancement of the quality of source waters of the New York City (NYC) water supply system. The Federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was enacted to protect the quality of drinking water in the United States of America. The New York City Watershed Protection Program provides financial assistance for projects as a part of the watershed program for protection and enhancement of the quality of source waters of the New York City water supply system.
Ashokan Reservoir
Projects include those that demonstrate, assess, or provide for comprehensive monitoring and surveillance and those that are necessary to comply with the criteria for avoiding filtration.
This SDWA Grant Program is administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) as part of the Department's Water Quality Improvement Projects: New York City Watershed Protection Program. Eligible projects must build on watershed protection efforts that help to improve water quality while enhancing and preserving the economy and rural character of local communities. Eligible types of projects are Non-Point Source Abatement and Control; Assessment, Planning and Research; and Outreach and Education. Applications are available on the Water Quality Improvement Program grants application page, and are accepted continuously.
