Consumer Protection

Environment

Good Government

Public Health

Higher Education

Mass Transit

Social Justice

Home

Don't Major in Debt!

Watershed Protection Project

As a signatory to the 1997 Watershed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA or Watershed Agreement), NYPIRG has been a leader in efforts to preserve the quality of drinking water for millions of New Yorkers. The Watershed Agreement is intended to be a framework for comprehensive watershed protection. If the city fails to protect the Catskill/Delaware Watershed it will be forced to construct a filtration plant that is projected to cost $10 billion, with $100 million in annual operating costs and debt service, and no guarantee that it will preserve public health.

Protecting our water supply is an ongoing effort. New York City continues to provide safe drinking water and progress in recent years has enhanced watershed protection. Nevertheless, there continue to be threats to our water supply.

Threats to our water supply:

Natural Gas Drilling: Not so fast DEC! Everyone deserves to be assured that their water is protected. (read more)

Pharmaceuticals and PCPs: Don’t flush unused prescription drugs away! Proper disposal is important for clean waters. (read more)

Stormwater: Can harm our drinking water supply, but there are ways to help reduce pollution. (read more)

Phosphorus: Going “green” is not always good—don’t let excess phosphorus destroy our waters. (read more)

Infrastructure Concerns: There is a limit to how much of a pollutant waters can handle. (read more)

Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs): Valuable ecosystems must be protected if they are to do their job. (read more)

Destruction of Wetlands: It is not just about protecting our waters, it’s getting it to people. (read more)