Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) has seen the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Program (CHIPS) become a success, helping municipalities all across New York State update and repair crumbling local roads and bridges.

Now, Palmesano believes that a reliable funding stream for localities to rejuvenate their sewer and water infrastructure from the state would pay similar dividends.

The plan, called the Safe Water infrastructure Action Program (S.W.A.P.) (A.9651) would provide predictable levels of annual funding to all municipalities in the state to allow them to replace or repair aging sewer and water infrastructure.

“Partnering with our local municipalities to create an annual dedicated funding stream like the successful CHIPS program will help them fix their deteriorating water and sewer infrastructure that continues to cause serious problems for communities and create high costs for property taxpayers,” said Palmesano.

Palmesano noted that this is an issue that transcends regional and political divides.

“Regardless of your political enrollment or if you reside in the Southern Tier, Long Island, New York City or The Adirondacks, municipalities across our state face a fiscal challenge to fix their aging and deteriorating water and sewer lines. This legislation is about state- local partnership. It is about protecting our drinking water. It is about protecting our families and small businesses, and it’s about controlling municipal costs to protect property taxpayers,” said Palmesano.

“The monster lurking under the aging water and sewer infrastructure of our towns and cities will not go away if we just close our eyes and wish it away. On the contrary, that monster can catastrophically attack at any time the safety of our drinking water, sewer and gas lines and the ability of taxpayers to afford repairs,” said Tedisco. “Just as important, with the $438 million allocated for the above ground CHIPS program, S.W.A.P. will protect the viability of the roads and bridges that will be maintained by that source of funding as we don’t want to throw good money after bad. Replicating the success of the CHIPS program on the state level to allow local governments to S.W.A.P.-out deteriorating drinking water, storm water, gas lines and sanitary sewer infrastructure makes sense because an ounce of prevention now can save tax dollars later and prevent costly breaks,” said Assemblyman Jim Tedisco (R,C,I-Glenville).

“Providing clean, safe and ample drinking water is a preeminent concern for our villages, towns and cities. Unfortunately, the sewer infrastructure of many of our municipalities is in dire need of repair and places a burdensome financial strain on our communities. Small towns and villages simply do not have the financial and human resources to be continually repairing and replacing sewer systems and old pipes. For these reasons, we are calling on the governor and legislative leaders to include funding for the S.W.A.P program in this year’s budget. With local water contamination crises rocking our state in recent months, the last thing our residents should have to worry about is clean drinking water,” said Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin (R,C,I-Schaghticoke).

“I think the S.W.A.P. plan is a great idea, it does not make sense to spend money on paving a road if the underground infrastructure is in disrepair,” said Halfmoon Highway Superintendent John Pingelski.