NYC Buys Westchester Land for $12M to Protect Kensico Reservoir Water Supply

Protecting NYC's Drinking Water

• 💧 The NYC Department of Environmental Protection has acquired 48 acres of land in central Westchester County for $12 million.
• 🎯 This purchase aims to prevent pollutants like rock salt and landscaping chemicals from entering the Kensico reservoir, a critical source for NYC's drinking water.

Strategic Land Acquisition

• 🔑 The acquired land will remain undeveloped to safeguard the watershed.
• 💰 This proactive measure is intended to avoid the immense cost of filtering the city's water supply, estimated at $20 billion or more.
• 🏙️ The Kensico reservoir is vital, as 90% of New York City's drinking water passes through it.

Financial and Environmental Benefits

• 💸 The $12 million property acquisition is the most expensive in the NYC DEP's history.
• 🌍 Protecting water at its source is described as the greenest and most affordable method to ensure a reliable drinking water supply.
• 🏞️ NYC is a significant property taxpayer in Westchester and other northern counties, contributing $165 million annually to protect water sources.