Feds Pump $1.1M Into Yonkers’ Aging Water Lifeline Under Major Deegan

Federal money is finally flowing to a very old pipe in Yonkers. Officials on Monday said new funding will shore up a century‑old water main running beneath the Major Deegan Expressway, a cramped 8‑inch cast‑iron line that quietly helps keep taps and fire hydrants working in the southern part of the city.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Mayor Mike Spano announced that the federal appropriation will pay for repairs to the Forest Avenue transmission main, which city leaders are treating as a crucial backup route during larger water‑system work. They say the project is key to maintaining drinking water and fire protection for roughly 18,000 residents while other distribution lines are taken offline for repairs.

As outlined by Senator Gillibrand's office, $1,092,000 for the Forest Avenue main is included in the fiscal‑year 2026 appropriations bill. Gillibrand said, "Access to clean, reliable drinking water is a fundamental right," describing the funding as part of a broader effort to reinforce Yonkers' aging pipes. Her office also points to a separate Midland Avenue transmission project that lawmakers want to fund in FY27 to bolster the city's redundant supply lines.

News 12 New York reports that the Forest Avenue line is an 8‑inch cast‑iron pipe about a century old, running beneath I‑87 at the Yonkers‑Bronx border. The work is intended to prevent water‑service and firefighting interruptions when Yonkers' connection to the Lower Catskill Aqueduct is taken offline for repairs. Officials estimate the upgrades will help protect water and fire coverage for around 18,000 residents during that period. Engineers told the outlet that the line's small diameter and its perch under a major interstate make the job far trickier than a standard dig‑up‑the‑street repair.

City reaction and next steps

Yonkers Department of Public Works Commissioner Thomas G. Meier welcomed the cash infusion and stressed that the city cannot afford to wait on aging pipes. "As our water infrastructure continues to age, it is critical that we invest in the health and safety of our residents to ensure that safe drinking water and fire protection is available to all," News 12 New York reports.

Meier said the city will start discussions with an engineering firm to scope the repairs, detail construction needs, and figure out how to work under a busy highway without causing chaos. Officials said the current federal appropriation will cover preliminary design and targeted repairs, while larger transmission‑system work will require additional funding down the road.

National context

Small, aging cast‑iron mains like Yonkers' Forest Avenue line are a familiar headache across the country, and experts have long warned that patch‑by‑patch fixes leave systems exposed. The American Society of Civil Engineers' infrastructure report notes ongoing shortfalls in drinking‑water funding and a nationwide pattern of old distribution pipes that cities often address only in pieces, ASCE's Report Card says. Local officials in Yonkers describe the new federal award as a targeted first move, not a full makeover, for the city's water network.

Funding outlook and timeline

Gillibrand's office also highlighted a ticking clock on major regional work. Yonkers' connection to the Lower Catskill Aqueduct supplies about 45% of the city's daily domestic water and firefighting capacity, according to the senator's release, and a planned shutdown in 2032 for aqueduct repairs makes additional transmission upgrades more urgent. Lawmakers are pushing a follow‑up appropriation for the Midland Avenue transmission project, and a House draft bill has included about $746,868 for that job, the release says. Larger transmission upgrades will still need more money, more design work, and more coordination before they can be finished.

Monday's announcement took place at Yonkers City Hall, where elected officials and agency staff said they will now move into engineering and procurement phases while continuing to work with state and federal partners. For information on city departments and services, see the City of Yonkers.