POUGHKEEPSIE- A $250 million funding package, supported largely by federal infrastructure dollars, will help communities across New York upgrade aging water systems, including a major lead pipe replacement effort in the City of Poughkeepsie.
The package combines federal and state funding streams to provide low-cost financing and grants to local governments for water and sewer infrastructure projects.
State officials said the programs rely heavily on federal funding through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, which combine federal and state dollars to deliver more than $1 billion annually in financing and grants for water projects across New York.
“Communities are working hard to upgrade aging water infrastructure and protect public health, and I’m committed to providing them with the resources they need to succeed,” Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement.
In the Hudson Valley, Poughkeepsie will receive $31.6 million in state grants and interest-free financing to replace 766 lead service lines. The funding includes loan-forgiveness grants through the state’s Lead Infrastructure Forgiveness and Transformation program. Federal support is also part of the effort; an additional $2.9 million in federal grants was previously approved to help the city complete an inventory of its lead service lines.
Another regional project will benefit the Westchester Joint Water Works, which will receive a $30 million state grant to construct the Rye Lake Water Filtration Plant.
Officials say combining federal and state resources allows communities to tackle costly infrastructure upgrades without passing the full burden onto local ratepayers. The projects include replacing lead pipes, improving water treatment, reducing flood risks, and modernizing systems that in many cases are decades old.
State leaders said the funding will help protect public health and the environment while supporting construction jobs and long-term infrastructure improvements throughout New York.
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