Access to clean drinking water is a human right. While novel contaminants, extensive development, and climate change put our region’s drinking water at risk, effective drinking water source protection programs keep pollution out of water supplies and minimize the need for expensive treatments to remove contaminants.
The waters provide
The Hudson River estuary itself is the source of drinking water for 100,000 people in seven Hudson Valley communities, and 9.5 million New York City and Hudson Valley residents drink clean, unfiltered drinking water from 19 upstate reservoirs and three lakes. Dozens of other communities draw water from the region’s streams, reservoirs, and groundwater. The impacts of PFAS and other industrial chemicals, polluted stormwater runoff, and other water quality risks are acute in our region. Many risk factors are being exacerbated by climate change. It is critical to protect our water sources from contamination — and doing so also protects diverse wildlife and habitats.
gallons of unfiltered drinking water delivered daily through the NYC water supply system
million people — half the population of New York State — are served by the NYC water supply system, including much of Westchester and communities north
public water supplies outside NYC serve 2.6 million people, over half of which live in environmental justice communities
people rely on the Hudson River Estuary, Upper Hudson River, Mohawk River, and Peekskill Hollow Brook as a source of drinking water
How we’re protecting drinking water
Riverkeeper has played a key role in ensuring that the watershed management program that protects New York City's drinking water is world-renowned, that New York State supports drinking water source protection for communities statewide, that key drinking water protection laws are passed and enforced, and that the Hudson River is protected as a drinking water source. Ensuring the safety of drinking water involves influencing regulation of contaminants, enforcing environmental laws, ensuring the efficacy of land conservation and other protection programs, monitoring water quality, and providing support to communities to defend their drinking water — starting at the source.
