Catskill Aqueduct - Our LONG-TERM WATER SOURCE?
The Catskill Aqueduct is part of NYC's drinking water supply system—one of the most extensive and well-protected municipal water systems in the world—with three major aqueduct-and-reservoir networks and over 130,000 acres of conserved land. However, this system is 100+ years old in some parts and in sore need of repair.
"The Croton, Catskill and Delaware watersheds deliver approximately 1.4 billion gallons of pristine, unfiltered drinking water each day from 19 upstate reservoirs to more than nine million people living in New York City, Westchester, Putnam, Orange and Ulster Counties. The 6,000-mile network of subterranean aqueducts carrying the water are in various states of disrepair and threaten the City's supply of fresh water."
SOURCE: RIVERKEEPER
Intermittently between 2018-2020, the Catskill Aqueduct is undergoing a $158 million maintenance project to repair leaks, replace old valves, remove biofilm accumulation and undergo other mechanical and structural upgrades. Once the Aqueduct has been upgraded, we hope that it can remain as the City of Newburgh's long-term supply. The NYC water system is overseen by NYC's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), as well as their Water Board and Municipal Water Finance Authority.


