Senator Charles Schumer says he's trying to get more federal money to help update local water and sewer projects,. His comments follow a major water line breaking in Amherst this week.
Schumer says he and other members of Congress are battling for the federal government to help local governments and taxpayers deal with aging water and sewer lines by making more money available.
"We have some of the oldest water and sewer in the country. These pipes were put in 50 years ago, 100 years ago," Schumer said.
"It's unacceptable in the 21st Century that New Yorkers have to boil their water before drinking and it's even more troubling that water main breaks are becoming more and more frequent."
According to Schumer, his office recently accessed $1 million in federal grant money to deal with problems in the water system in the Chautauqua County village of Westfield. He points out that the issue goes further than a basic health issue, that water problems will make it "difficult to grow our local economy."
For Schumer the need is heightened by the renewed interest for businesses moving to Western New York.
"They ask, How's your water and sewer? Companies need this kind of stuff."
Though billions in federal monies are being allocated to communities for water infrastructure, Schumer argues that billions more are needed. Earlier this year, he introduced legislation that would boost infrastructure funding.
