OWASCO — The problem came to the forefront last fall.Ìý
Tests of drinking water from Owasco Lake showed . More samples of water from supplies for Auburn and Owasco were taken and sent away for testing. The toxins were still there, even if the levels never exceeded the health advisory standard — 0.3 parts per billion — set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.Ìý
OWASCO — When Gov. Andrew Cuomo learned of the water quality issues affecting Auburn-area co…
Regardless, local government officials and stakeholders were concerned. Blue-green algae in Owasco Lake wasn't new, but toxins from the algal blooms winding up in drinking water supplies was a new problem. And while it didn't pose any immediate problems, many worried about what would happen when, not if, the blooms reemerged.Ìý
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As Auburn and Owasco leaders considered ways to treat drinking water, state agencies provided support. The state Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Health got involved. Samples continued to be tested to ensure the toxins were no longer at detectable levels.Ìý
Representatives of the environmental and health agencies weren't the only state officials paying attention. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, too, followed reports of the problem and wanted to take action.Ìý
At an event Wednesday yards from the shore of Owasco Lake, Cuomo said the lake's water quality challenges propelled him to include a $2 billion fund in his budget proposal that would support water infrastructure projects across the state.Ìý
While Cuomo delivered a presentation to legislators in January outlining the water infrastructure fund, he and problems posed by blue-green algae toxins.Ìý
He also for Auburn and Owasco drinking water system upgrades — a pledge he kept. The 2017-18 state budget includes the .Ìý
Cuomo's push for an overall state water infrastructure was also successful. The budget includes $2.5 billion for water system improvements.Ìý
"It's a significant expense," he said. "But as I mentioned this is a statewide problem and there is no cheap solution to this. This is not the place where you'd want a cheap solution because this goes to literally the health and the quality of the water we're drinking."Â
In past years, Cayuga County investments provided in state budgets are overlooked. When state officials discuss a project or initiative in central New York, the focus often is on Syracuse and Onondaga County — the largest city and county in the region.Ìý
That wasn't the case this year with the funding for Owasco Lake, most of which will be used for the installation of treatment systems to ensure blue-green algae toxins are removed from the drinking water supply.Ìý
Before the state budget agreement was reached, the state Legislature passed an extender to fund government operations. That measure included the $2 million proposed by Cuomo — a fact he touted when his office distributed a press release highlighting the projects funded by the extender.Ìý
When the state budget agreement was finalized, the funding was still there. And he again mentioned the money coming for drinking water from Owasco Lake.Ìý
That set the stage for Wednesday and the event at Emerson Park Pavilion. For the first time since August 2014, Cuomo appeared in Cayuga County and he highlighted the water quality investments in this year's budget — the funding for Owasco Lake and the $2.5 billion water infrastructure fund.Ìý
In interviews with мÓƶà¶à¿ª½±¼Ç¼, several local officials welcomed the funding. But even Cuomo admitted that more may be needed.Ìý
"It's a problem statewide. It's a problem right here, as you know, and it's a problem, I'm afraid, that is only going to get worse if we don't address it," he said. "It's not going to get better on its own."Â