DiNapoli: New York’s Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Fixing

New York's drinking water systems may need about $40 billion dollars in repairs and improvements over the next two decades.

That's according to a report issued by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

DiNapoli says many drinking water systems in New York are over 100 years old and are operating far beyond their useful life.

He says recent high profile water system failures and problems in places like Syracuse are the latest signs of the need to spend more on water delivery systems.

The Executive Budget for State Fiscal Year 2017-18 proposes a $2 billion capital appropriation for water quality improvements. However, the estimated price tag from the Environmental Protection Agency to just maintain the existing infrastructure is $22 billion through the year 2030.

Dinapoli says the state Department of Health, meanwhile, puts the estimate much higher and concluded the state will need as much as $39 billion in capital financing for drinking water projects.