In an effort to protect and maintain the quality of drinking water, New York City has purchased a 48-acre property in Westchester County for $12 million. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced that the land is located near the Kensico Reservoir, an important point in the city’s unfiltered water system. According to the City of New York, this purchase represents the largest investment in watershed land to date.
The land had previously been considered for development, which could have increased the presence of pollutants, including rock salt and landscaping chemicals, in New York City’s drinking water. DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala highlighted the city’s efforts to protect water quality, which may reduce the need for costly filtration in the future. As reported by CBS News, Aggarwala noted, “Ninety percent of New York City's drinking water passes through this reservoir before entering our distribution system.”
With this land purchase, New York City is taking steps to maintain the quality of its water supply. The city anticipates that this approach could help avoid future costs of more than $20 billion for a mandatory filtration system, Eric Goldstein of the Natural Resources Defense Council told CBS News. New York City, which currently meets water quality standards without filtration due to its management of water sources, aims to maintain this status ahead of the upcoming 2027 review.
The city’s acquisition adds to its existing real estate holdings in the watershed region. It is one of the largest property taxpayers in Westchester and other northern counties, contributing approximately $165 million annually. Local officials have highlighted the initiative’s impact on environmental protection and public health.
By acquiring this additional land, New York City continues to maintain the quality of its drinking water, which currently meets EPA standards without filtration, as reported by CBS News. As the city faces future challenges, including climate-driven weather events and ongoing development pressures, measures such as this watershed land purchase are part of its strategy to ensure a sustainable water supply for over nine million residents.
