Drinking Water Source Water Protection Initiative also Contributes to New York State’s 30x30 Initiative
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Orange County Water Authority (OCWA) today announced the acquisition of a conservation easement totaling 13.5 acres to protect water quality and help safeguard public drinking water sources for the City of Newburgh. OCWA, in partnership with the Orange County Land Trust, worked with the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Inc. to conserve a portion of their 39-acre property.
“DEC is proud to work with groups like the Orange County Water Authority, Orange County Land Trust and cooperating landowners to ensure open space and drinking water remain protected,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “Thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul’s record investments in clean water, DEC can continue to connect communities to funding that improves water quality across the state.”
The Water Authority secured the conservation easement located in the Brown’s Pond watershed (Silver Stream Reservoir), a public drinking water supply for the city of Newburgh that serves 29,000 people, with funding from DEC’s Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Program. The easement is comprised of forested land and will remain in its native vegetative state to continue to act as a filter for potential pollutants. This will prevent potential contaminant sources that stem from development or stormwater runoff from entering the water supply. The conservation easement and future acquisitions also support New York’s 30x30 Initiative, which commits to conserving 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030.
OCWA Board of Directors Chairman Dominic Cordisco said, "Over six years of effort have gone into the process to purchase land and conservation easements that will help protect the City of Newburgh's water supply. On behalf of the Orange County Water Authority, we thank all of those who helped make this happen, including Governor Hochul, DEC, and our partners at the Orange County Land Trust."
Orange County Land Trust Executive Director Jim Delaune said, “When we first approached the Sisters of the Presentation about the possibility of protecting their forest for the purpose of protecting drinking water, they were very receptive and enthusiastic, which I think speaks to their dedication to community and serving the greater good. Thank you to the Sisters, Governor Kathy Hochul, the Department of Environmental Conservation, and Orange County Water Authority, who secured the WQIP grant that made this project possible.”
Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus said, “Protecting this 13.5-acre forest in New Windsor is a significant step forward in safeguarding our region’s water resources and ensuring clean drinking water for our communities. I want to thank the Sisters of the Presentation for their generosity and vision, and commend the Orange County Land Trust, the Orange County Water Authority, Governor Hochul, and all our partners for their commitment to preserving our natural environment for future generations.”
Orange County Planning Commissioner Alan Sorensen said, “This project is an excellent example of how State and local governments, along with our not-for-profit partners, can work together to achieve common goals.”
Water Quality Improvement Project Program (WQIP)
WQIP is a competitive, reimbursement grant program that funds projects that directly improve water quality or habitat or protect a drinking water source. DEC recently awarded more than $200 million through WQIP to support municipal wastewater treatment upgrades, polluted runoff abatement and control, land acquisition projects for drinking water protection, salt storage construction and road salt reduction practices, dam safety rehabilitation, repair and removal, aquatic connectivity restoration, marine district habitat restoration, and fish and wildlife habitat restoration and enhancement. More information is available on DEC’s WQIP webpage.
Additional Efforts to Protect Drinking Water Resources
DEC and the State Department of Health, in collaboration with the Departments of Agriculture and Markets and State, created the Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2) to assist municipalities with proactively protecting their drinking water sources. Communities work with a technical assistance provider, free of charge, to develop and initiate implementation of their drinking water source protection program. DWSP2 plans protect both public health and water quality of surface and groundwater across the state. To date, DWSP2 has served over 2.5 million water consumers and evaluated 128 source waters in New York State. If interested in becoming one of more than 100 municipalities participating in DWSP2, please visit the DWSP2 webpage to fill out an interest form and view example plans, factsheets, and past newsletters or contact [email protected] for additional information.
New York's Commitment to Water Quality
New York State continues to increase its nation-leading investments in water infrastructure, with a total of $6 billion invested in water infrastructure since 2017. The funding is in addition to other substantial water quality investments, including the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, which is advancing historic levels of funding to update aging water infrastructure and protect water quality, strengthen communities' ability to withstand severe storms and flooding, reduce air pollution and lower climate-altering emissions, restore habitats, and preserve outdoor spaces and local farms.
The grants announced today are supported by the State's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). Governor Hochul’s 2026–27 Executive Budget proposes a record $425 million for the EPF, a critical resource for environmental programs such as land acquisition, farmland protection, invasive species prevention and eradication, recreation access, water quality improvement, and environmental justice projects. The Executive Budget also includes a historic $3.75 billion five-year commitment to clean water infrastructure.
