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DEP commissioner urges science-led approach to prolong filtration avoidance determination, highlights $228 million agricultural pact
Summary
Commissioner Agrawala, New York City Department of Environmental Protection, told the Catskill Watershed Corporation annual meeting that DEP will follow science and cost-effectiveness to extend the Filtration Avoidance Determination and highlighted a $228 million, 10-year agreement with the Watershed Agricultural Council.
Commissioner Agrawala, New York City Department of Environmental Protection, told the Catskill Watershed Corporation's annual meeting in Arkville that DEP will base future watershed decisions on science and cost-effectiveness as it seeks to prolong the life of the Filtration Avoidance Determination (FAD).
"Doing so would avoid or at least postpone a multi, multibillion dollar infrastructure investment," Commissioner Agrawala said, describing the fiscal and environmental stakes tied to whether the city must build a filtration plant.
He outlined recent DEP actions and initiatives intended to reduce pressure on the FAD and to strengthen the agency's partnership with watershed communities. Agrawala highlighted a newly announced 10-year agreement with the Watershed Agricultural Council for $228,000,000 that he said will deliver water-quality benefits and economic support for area farmers. He also described a request for information on broadband and cell coverage gaps and said DEP is exploring use of city-owned lands for renewable energy projects.
Why it matters: The FAD lets New York City supply unfiltered drinking water from certain upstate reservoirs while meeting federal and state standards; losing it would likely require major capital investment for filtration. Agrawala framed DEP's priorities as: follow the science, seek cost-effective solutions, and preserve the FAD where possible.
Key points and supporting details:
- Science and priorities: Agrawala said DEP will prioritize scientifically supported practices that protect water quality and the longevity of the FAD, then consider cost effectiveness because of ratepayer impacts. He noted the department raised water rates roughly 8.5% last year and disclosed a similar increase to bondholders as a planning assumption.
- Land acquisition and alternatives: The commissioner described DEP's decision to scale back large-scale land acquisition in certain priority areas and instead support targeted riparian buffer programs and other measures that can preserve water quality while reducing competition for land.
- Infrastructure and the Shokan treatment plant: Agrawala said DEP protected progress on the Shokan treatment plant despite budgetary pressures, and that difficult reprioritizations were made to keep that project on track.
- New and uncertain threats: He described three evolving threats to the system: climate-driven intense storms that increase runoff, rising water-quality standards that limit traditional treatment approaches, and rising wildlife populations that are contributing to contamination in some reservoirs.
- Geographic shift in risk: Agrawala said the greatest current challenges are increasingly East of Hudson, particularly around the Kensico Reservoir, because of infrastructure changes like the Catskill UV plant and system interconnections.
- Partnerships and workforce: The commissioner praised collaboration with CWC staff and local partners and said DEP is seeking creative, dual-benefit programs (for example, cell coverage improvements that help both DEP staff communications and local communities).
Ending: Agrawala urged watershed and city stakeholders to think differently about the FAD's future and to plan for both preserving it and for contingencies, saying DEP will engage the scientific community and stakeholders through late 2026 as permit and FAD-related work proceeds.
