New York Awards 500 Million In Water Infrastructure Grants Statewide

Tuesday, October 20, 2026, New York State announced grants for drinking water and sewer projects throughout the Empire State.

Close to $500 million in grants are being made available for critical drinking water and sewer projects in New York State to help communities upgrade drinking water and sewer systems while minimizing costs for families and businesses, according to the announcement.

These grants are designed to help local state governments to modernize aging infrastructure, tackle legacy threats such as lead service lines and emerging contaminants, and lay the foundation for sustainable growth and economic development.

Read More: New York State Rebate Checks Continue To Be Mailed Out

Investing in water infrastructure is an investment in the future of every New Yorker. My administration will continue ensuring communities have the financial support and tools they need to protect public health and safeguard our natural resources while keeping these critical investments affordable. - New York State Governor Kathy Hochul

The grants are estimated to save communities $1 billion in debt service, based on current market conditions, with an estimated 22,400 jobs in construction and related industries, including engineering, manufacturing, and local services.

Southern Tier & Central New York Projects

• Southern Tier - $26 million to 7 projects, including $6.9 million to the Town of Chenango for improvements that will protect drinking water from emerging contaminants.
• Central New York -  $64 million to 10 projects, including $25 million to Oswego County for a regional wastewater infrastructure initiative.

$119 million in enhanced grants are earmarked for drinking water projects that bring systems into compliance with the State’s strict standards for emerging contaminants, and wastewater and sewer projects in small, rural, and disadvantaged communities.

$64 million to projects that identify and replace lead service lines, building on more than $600 million in grant commitments since 2021 to help get the lead out.

$120 million is awarded to municipalities that worked with EFC’s Community Assistance Teams.