New York State is home to a vast infrastructure network designed to support our daily life and economy. But unfortunately, the systems we rely on to provide clean drinking water and safely dispose of wastewater are aging, failing and causing an increasing number of issues for our communities.

While it’s estimated that repairs and upgrades to our state’s drinking and wastewater infrastructure could cost nearly $75 billion over the next 20 years, we’ve already made some significant progress in improving these vital networks to ensure they work for today’s communities. In fact, this year’s state budget included $200 million to make necessary upgrades to local water and sewer networks, and in September, I’ll be joining my colleagues in the state Assembly to host a series of public hearings that will allow us to discover new and innovative ways to tackle the most pressing water infrastructure issues facing our communities.

Another issue we need to address is contaminated drinking water, which can pose a serious threat to our children. Unfortunately, a recent test at nearby Syracuse schools showed that high lead levels may have been present. Our kids always come first and we must do everything we can to protect them, so I co-sponsored and helped pass legislation requiring the state to create guidelines for testing school water supplies for lead. In addition, costs associated with testing and remediation would be eligible for reimbursement by the state. With more frequent testing and stricter safety standards, we can help protect the health of every child in New York State so they can succeed.

These are strong steps toward maintaining and modernizing our state’s drinking and wastewater infrastructures, but there’s still more work to be done to ensure our families can stay safe and healthy, and I’ll continue to advocate for the repairs and upgrades our communities need. As always, I’m here for you. If you have any questions or concerns about this or any community issue, please don’t hesitate to contact me at StirpeA@nyassembly.gov or by calling 452-1115.