Relates to information contained in the annual water supply statement

1 Co-sponsor

• Daniel L. Squadron

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to information contained in the annual water supply statement

Purpose or general idea of bill

Requires water works corporations to include in their annual water supply statement to customers information regarding the existence and location of lead pipes in their water system and requires the department of health to include such information in the annual New York state public water supply report.

Summary of specific provisions

Section one of the bill amends section 1151 of the public health law by adding a new subdivision 9.

Section two amends section 1152-a of the public health law, as added by chapter 72 of the laws of 1997.

Section three sets forth the effective date of the bill.

Justification

Lead is a known toxic that presents grave public health concerns, particularly in relation to drinking water. Although the 1986 amendments to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) significantly limited the use of lead pipes, it did so primarily for new and not existing infrastructure. While the SDWA requires water systems to treat water in order to decrease the chance of potential corrosion, such measures do not indefinitely prevent the leaching of lead from pipes into the water supply.

Much of the water infrastructure in New York State is aging and in desperate need of repair. Some pipes have not been replaced since they were first installed over a hundred years ago. Consequently, many lead pipes still exist in local water systems and present a very significant potential threat to human health. The ability to effectively and efficiently address these risks across the state is forestalled by a lack of centralized data collection. Although localities keep records of lead pipes in their drinking water infrastructure, such information is not compiled at the state level.

Water corporations in New York already provide an annual water supply statement to all of their customers. In addition, the department of health publishes an annual public water supply report. This bill would require that both the statement provided by water corporations and report published by the department include information on the number and location of lead pipes of the water system(s) they pertain to. It would further require the department to produce a database and map of the existing lead pipe infrastructure in New York that would be publically accessible.

Prior legislative history

New Bill.

Fiscal implications

To be determined.