New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says the state’s water systems probably need as much as $40 billion in repairs and upgrades over the next 20 years.
Many of the water supply systems for New York’s cities is more than 100 years old, and an audit from DiNapoli’s office finds the revenues they earn are just enough to cover the operating expenses, not the maintenance. He says that shows in strings of water main breaks around the state. He says meeting the need of all these systems is a considerable challenge.
Governor Cuomo’s executive budget would spend about $2 billion this year on fixing those systems. DiNapoli says that’s not going to cut it, but doesn’t suggest where the money should come from.
More than 900 local government entities around the state operate public water systems.