What's happening
This bill allows counties to establish watershed protection improvement districts for protecting and restoring groundwater, surface waters, and drinking water quality.
Why it matters
Expands local government tools for water protection. By allowing counties to create watershed protection improvement districts, the bill empowers local officials to address water quality threats more directly, tailoring solutions to their community’s specific needs.
Targets both groundwater and surface water threats. The new districts can initiate projects aimed at protecting and restoring not just drinking water, but also broader aquifers, lakes, streams, and wetlands that feed into public water supplies.
Enables innovative water quality solutions. With explicit authority for stormwater treatment and wetland construction, counties can pursue modern, science-based approaches to preventing pollution and improving natural water filtration.
Potential for increased local investment and oversight. New districts may lead to dedicated funding streams, public meetings, and annual reports, giving residents more say and transparency in how their water resources are protected and restored.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create Watershed Protection Districts
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to local governments
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.559
- Referred to local government
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to local governments
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
Show 4 earlier actions
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.457
- Referred to local government
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Protect Watersheds and Drinking Water
In Assembly Committee · Local Governments · Sponsor Fred Thiele
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
S. 3002 A. 2329
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
SENATE - ASSEMBLY
January 18, 2017
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments
AN ACT to amend the county law, in relation to the establishment, extension, powers and expenses of watershed protection improvement districts
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 250 of the county law, as amended by chapter 388 of the laws of 1980, the opening paragraph as amended by chapter 620 of the laws of 1996, subdivision 1-a as amended by section 73 of part A of chapter 58 of the laws of 2010, subdivision 4-a as added by chapter 761 of the laws of 1981, subdivision 6 as amended by chapter 622 of the laws of 1984, and subdivision 8 as amended by chapter 184 of the laws of 1981, is amended to read as follows:
§ 250. Purpose. The board of supervisors of each county may establish, consolidate, or extend county water, water quality treatment, sewer, wastewater disposal, drainage, watershed protection improvement, or refuse districts (hereinafter referred to in this article as the "district") in the manner hereinafter provided:
1. For the purpose of developing or acquiring a supply of water for (a) wholesale distribution to other municipalities, districts or persons, corporate or otherwise, within the county water district, (b) retail distribution, except as hereinafter provided, or (c) both such wholesale and retail distribution;
1-a. For the purpose of (a) procuring by purchase, lease or other means and installing water quality treatment units or devices, if required; providing periodic testing and monitoring of raw and finished
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07172-01-7
S. 3002 2 A. 2329
water from private wells in the district; monitoring, modifying, repairing, replacing, operation and maintenance, regenerating water quality treatment units and devices and the administering of the treatment and disposal of residuals generated in the operation of the district pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the public health and health planning council under section two hundred twenty-five of the public health law; (b) assisting local, state and federal agencies and officials in efforts to establish causes of, and implement remedial measures to reduce water contamination and protect future water resources within the district; (c) conduct public meetings and issue an annual public report to members of the district on the operation, financial position and water quality condition of said district; provided, however, that with respect to any town in the county the board of supervisors shall first determine that such district or service will not be established or provided by such town.
2. For the purpose of (a) the conveyance from other municipalities and districts within the county of sewage, and treatment and disposal thereof, (b) collection, except as hereinafter provided, or (c) both such conveyance and such collection;
3. For the purpose of administration and planning (including educational programs), design, installation, construction, rehabilitation, replacement, operation and maintenance (including pumping and inspections), monitoring, residual treatment and disposal and regulation of private on-site wastewater disposal systems of such district;
4. For the purpose of drainage of storm water and other waters, either surface or subsurface, within the county;
4-a. For the purpose of effecting lake protection and rehabilitation, and any activities necessarily related thereto.
5. For the purpose of the collection and disposition of garbage, ashes, rubbish and other waste matter within the county.
5-a. For the purpose of the protection and restoration of groundwater, surface waters and drinking water quality as it may be deemed to be necessary or desirable, including but not limited to stormwater treatment projects and wetland construction.
6. A county district established hereunder may consist of two or more noncontiguous areas in which the water, sewer, wastewater disposal, drainage or refuse system (hereinafter referred to in this article as the "system") will be interrelated and interdependent, however, in Suffolk county the term "interrelated and interdependent" shall be deemed to mean that the noncontiguous areas must be within the county and have the same administrative head. However, a water quality treatment district established hereunder may consist of noncontiguous or contiguous benefited parcels of property and shall be created by a resolution of the county board of supervisors, upon petition after a public hearing.
7. Except in the county of Suffolk, no county district shall be established hereunder which shall consist wholly of territory within one city, within one village or within that portion of one town outside of a village.
8. Notwithstanding any other provision of law a sewer district may also exercise all the powers of a wastewater disposal district if the map and plan prepared pursuant to section two hundred fifty-three of this [chapter] article, or amended pursuant to section two hundred fifty-three-b of this [chapter] article, includes on-site wastewater disposal systems.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the county law, in relation to the establishment, extension, powers and expenses of watershed protection improvement districts
Purpose
Relates to the establishment, extension, powers and expenses of watershed improvement districts by the board of supervisors of each county.
Summary of provisions
Amends Section 250 of the County Law to allow the board of supervisors of each county to establish, consolidate or extend watershed protection improvement for the purpose of the protection and restoration of groundwater, surface waters and drinking water quality as it may be deemed to be necessary or desirable, including but not limited to storm water treatment projects and wetland construction.
Justification
New York State's surface, ground and drinking water resources are continually threatened by pollution. Many rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs and estuarine waters do not meet their current designated uses. Approximately 34% of New York's estuarine waters are categorized as impaired; 44% of New York's lake and reservoir acres are categorized as being impaired or threatened.
Contaminants from storm water runoff and ineffective sanitary septic systems such as excess nutrients, bacteria, toxic substances and sediment can cause excessive algae growth, close bathing beaches and shell fishing areas, harm aquatic life and contaminate drinking water.
Best management practices designed to capture, treat and infiltrate runoff will limit the volume of storm water and amount of pollutants reaching our water bodies. Replacing out dated sanitary septic systems, especially in nutrient loadings to groundwater and groundwater-fed surface waters. Counties often do not have the funds to undertake these important measures. This legislation would expand the power of the board of supervisors of each county establish watershed protection improvement districts which would provide a dedicated, sustainable local funding source with equitable shared costs. Through watershed protection improvement districts, counties would be able to raise funds to install and maintain the following efforts:
Storm water treatment, drainage and infiltration projects, septic system upgrades, alternative septic systems, conservation landscaping, storm water collection devices and natural shorelines and shoreline buffers.
The enactment of Chapter 378 of the Laws of 2012 enabled Towns to establish water protection improvement districts. This bill will extend the same provisions to counties.
Legislative history
2015-16 S.1878/A.2015; 2014 S.6713/A.8931.
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.