Ensuring clean drinking water for Newburgh

Situated halfway between Albany and New York City, the quickly growing City of Newburgh’s history is closely tied to the Hudson River. But as important as the river is, the residents’ supply of drinking water has long come from sources in the hills to the west of the city.

In 2016, Newburgh’s primary water source, Lake Washington, was found to be contaminated with PFAs, known as “forever chemicals.” These compounds build up in the human body and are linked to harmful health effects. When Newburgh identified a new source of water in the Catskill Aqueduct, it also relied on nearby Brown’s Pond as a critical backup.

But in this development-pressured area, how could local leaders protect Brown’s Pond and its vital clean water for the future? That’s where New York’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) came in.

The Open Space Institute (OSI), in partnership with New York State, local municipalities, and water conservation organizations, leveraged approximately $900,000 from the EPF that allowed the Orange County Water Authority (OCWA) to expend just $300,000 in County funds to acquire and protect 83 acres of land in the Brown’s Pond watershed. OSI also provided technical, legal, and other assistance to make the protection of Brown’s Pond possible. The conservation of the Brown’s Pond property capped a five-year OCWA effort to protect the land and safeguard the clean water source for Newburgh’s 29,000 residents. It had long been a top conservation priority for its size and the risk of nearby development due to proximity to major commercial routes.

“Forests, meadows, and wetlands filter the clean drinking water we need for survival,” said Matt Decker, Senior Land Project Manager at OSI. “Protecting our watersheds is an investment that will pay dividends in reliable, clean water for years to come. With support from the EPF, OSI is working with our local partners to limit the impacts of pollution and stormwater runoff, preserve our water resources, and advance New York State’s commitment to environmental justice.”

Now protected forever, the parcel — located just 100 feet from the shore of Brown’s Pond and adjacent to 440 acres of reservoir land owned by Newburgh — will continue to naturally filter rainwater through a mix of meadows, mature woods, and wetlands. Conservation of the Brown’s Pond property will also help mitigate stormwater runoff and prevent new sources of pollution from being introduced into the watershed.

“When the Catskill Aqueduct undergoes routine maintenance, the City of Newburgh uses its backup water supply reservoir at Brown’s Pond as its drinking water source,” City of Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey said. “The City of Newburgh is grateful to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Open Space Institute, and the Orange County Water Authority for their work to preserve the reservoir’s watershed and ensure a continued source of clean drinking water for the City.”

In Newburgh and across the state, the EPF continues to offer vital support for projects that improve water quality; safeguard aquatic habitat; promote flood risk reduction, restoration, and enhanced flood and climate resiliency; and protect threatened drinking water sources.  

Photo shows Newburgh watershed © Greg Miller