For Release: Friday, October 17, 2008
Grants Available for Water Quality Improvement Projects for the New York City Watershed Protection Program
Applications are now being accepted
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced that grant applications are now being accepted on a continuous basis for Water Quality Improvement Projects (WQIP) under the New York City Watershed Program.
The New York City Watershed Protection Program will be advanced through funding from the federal Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Act Grant Program. The Watershed program is offering $3 million in grant funds for polluted runoff abatement, which includes assessment, planning and research, and outreach and education projects in the New York City Watershed.
Non-point source pollution, or polluted runoff, is one of the leading causes of water pollution and is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As it flows, stormwater runoff collects and transports soil, animal waste, salt, pesticides, fertilizers, oil, grease, debris and other potential pollutants.
"The availability of these funds will enable us to continue to build upon the success of programs within the historic and landmark New York City Watershed agreement in 2007," said Commissioner Grannis, referring to a 10-year extension of the decision by the federal EPA that allows the City to use un-filtered drinking water known as the FAD - Filtration Avoidance Determination. "The New York City Watershed is one of the most environmentally important regions in the northeast. The critical work being done in the watershed is essential for the future health of the region, its communities, and the drinking water supply for one-half the population of New York State. This funding is instrumental in supporting projects that further protect and safeguard the largest unfiltered drinking water supply in the nation."
Examples of projects previously funded under the New York City Watershed Program included the "Development of an Endocrine Disruption Study in streams, rivers, and lakes of the New York City Watershed in relation to New York State" and the "Pharmaceutical and Other Organics in Wastewater Sampling" which continues the study of pharmaceutical and other organic wastewater compounds at wastewater treatment plants and key points in the NYC Watershed.
A new WQIP application form must be submitted to be considered for funding. Applications from previous years will not be carried over.
Application materials for WQIPs are available by calling DEC's Division of Water at (518) 402-8164 or by visiting the DEC website..
