Hochul Announces $249M in Water Quality Grants
New York's Department of Environmental Conservation is channeling the funds through two competitive programs targeting wastewater, algal blooms and habitat restoration.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Environmental
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Governor Kathy Hochul announced more than US$249 million in water quality grants on October 30 through two competitive State Department of Environmental Conservation programs. The awards fund wastewater upgrades, drinking water protection, pollution cuts behind harmful algal blooms and habitat restoration.
Why it matters
About US$122 million of the grants go to watersheds that have experienced harmful algal blooms in the past five years or to DEC HABs Action Plan projects. Wastewater treatment receives the largest share, which affects water quality across communities statewide.
The WQIP round 22 award list totals US$246.8 million across 139 projects, with 71% of awards going to 24 wastewater treatment upgrades. Projected water quality gains from these awards have not yet been quantified in the source material.
The players
Kathy Hochul
Governor of New York, who announced the grants and has championed state environmental bond-funded infrastructure programs.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
The state agency that administers the Water Quality Improvement Project and Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning grant programs.
The details
The grants are channeled through the Water Quality Improvement Project, which draws on the 2022 Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, the Environmental Protection Fund and Clean Water Infrastructure funding. Awards are competitive and paid as reimbursements requiring a 25% local match, and include salt storage and road salt reduction projects, dam safety repairs and land acquisitions.
Timeline
October 30: Governor Hochul announces more than US$249 million in water quality grants.
May 2027: DEC expects the Consolidated Funding Application to reopen for Round 23.
Roadmap
The awards are funded in part by the 2022 Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, which directs state dollars toward water infrastructure. This round extends that bond-funded program into wastewater upgrades and algal bloom mitigation across multiple watersheds.
Communities with wastewater or drinking water infrastructure in the funded projects may see upgrades to treatment systems over time. Residents near watersheds affected by harmful algal blooms may benefit from reduced pollution inputs as these projects proceed.
The takeaway
Water infrastructure funding is often awarded through competitive, reimbursement-based programs that require local matching funds, so communities interested in future rounds should track the Consolidated Funding Application timeline.
What happens next
DEC expects the Consolidated Funding Application to reopen in May 2027 for Round 23 of the Water Quality Improvement Project.
Further reading
Explore more New York environmental news for context on state water policy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Smart Water Magazine.
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