New York State Launches $30 Billion Water Infrastructure Upgrade
Kingston, NY – A multiyear, $30 billion modernization project is underway to overhaul New York’s century-old water infrastructure, a 570-billion-gallon network supplying half the state’s population.
Yesterday, John Milgrim, director of External Affairs for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Water Supply, detailed the sweeping project at an Ulster Regional Chamber of Commerce breakfast. The system, which delivers approximately 400 billion gallons of water annually from reservoirs in the Hudson Valley and Catskills, relies entirely on gravity to transport water through two main aqueducts – the 92-mile Catskill Aqueduct and the 85-mile Delaware Aqueduct – to New York City, parts of New Jersey, and even Philadelphia. This upgrade is critical to ensuring continued access to clean water for millions as aging infrastructure faces increasing strain.
“There are no pumps in the system,” Milgrim said. “It all runs on gravity, flowing under the Hudson River through aqueducts built more than 100 years ago — one of which remains the longest continuous tunnel in the world.” The DEP conducts over three million water quality tests each year using advanced technology, and is Ulster County’s largest taxpayer, contributing $28 million annually and employing over 200 local workers in roles ranging from biologists to law enforcement. Major projects include a $1.3 billion overhaul of the Ashokan Reservoir, featuring new gates and a wider dividing-weir bridge, and a $2 billion Delaware Aqueduct Bypass Tunnel near Newburgh. You can learn more about water infrastructure challenges from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Other significant investments include the $2 billion Kensico–Eastview Connection Tunnel in Westchester and a $1.2 billion, 25-year upgrade to the Hillview Reservoir in Yonkers to meet EPA mandates. Officials confirmed that contractors are encouraged to prioritize hiring regional tradespeople for these projects, boosting local economies. For more information on New York’s water supply, visit the New York City Department of Environmental Protection website.
Milgrim stated the capital work is expected to span over a decade, with project costs subject to change, and officials will continue to monitor progress and adjust plans as needed.
