7 Communities Sign Up To Protect Hudson River For Drinking Water

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — Seven communities with 100,000 people who use the Hudson River as a source of drinking water have signed an agreement creating the Hudson River Drinking Water Intermunicipal Council which aims to protect the Hudson River. Leaders from the towns of Esopus, Lloyd, Hyde Park, the city and town of Poughkeepsie and the village and town of Rhinebeck gathered at the Marist Boathouse in Poughkeepsie Thursday to sign the formal agreement.

The council’s focus will be the long-term protection of the Hudson River as a drinking water source.

Forming the council was among the top recommendations of a report commissioned by Riverkeeper and written by the Center for Watershed Protection.

According to Riverkeeper, collaborative efforts such as this are expected to make the seven municipalities more competitive for grants and other support associated with the state’s $2.5 billion Clean Water Infrastructure Act, which will provide multi-year funding for projects, including $1 billion for clean water infrastructure and more than $100 million for protecting water at its source.

Poughkeepsie Town Supervisor Jon Jay Baisley said the group of communities came together to work on protecting the river with great enthusiasm.

“Working together will give us a stronger voice when addressing the issues pertaining to the quality of our water,” he said. “It is a top priority to be able to serve the residents the best water possible. Having a strong, secure and safe water system is one of the driving economic factors in our town.”

Photo credit: Michael Woyton/Patch Staff