Downstate New York is home to approximately 9 million people and countless flora and fauna, not to mention the never-ending flow of tourists. Having such exceptional traffic, it is imperative that New York City has an equally exceptional quality of water. Currently, New York City’s water is derived from unfiltered upstate watersheds.
If nothing is done, water quality will go down and New York City will have to engage a filtration plant. In order to accommodate a population the size of downstate New York, that water filtration plant will cost $6-8 billion. The majority of the burden will fall on New York City residents and businesses. Many of these people may not be in a position to afford paying double rates, namely rent-controlled housing units. Therefore, we must avoid the creation of a filtration plant.
The NYC Watershed Agricultural Program (WAP) is an integral part of the Department of Environmental Protection’s Long-Term Long-Term Watershed Protection Strategy. This program is facilitated by the City and voluntary farmers whose lands are used as watersheds. As of September 2007, over 95% of commercial farms are enrolled in this program (US EPA). The WAP utilizes farm Best Management Practices (BMP) which “prevent or reduce the amount of pollution generated by non point sources (in this case agriculture) in order to protect and enhance water quality” (Watershed Agricultural Council). In other words, BMP stops potential risks to the water before they get into farm streams with the multiple barrier approach. Potential pollutants include: parasites and phosphorus: Animal Waste; Pesticides; Phosphorus: Fertilizer Storage; Nutrient Management; Sediment; Pesticides; Fuel Storage; Other Toxic Materials; and more (Watershed Agricultural Council).
This approach effectively bypasses the need of a filtration system by not letting harmful byproducts get into the water. Funding for the NYC WAP is from the federal government, state, and private funding, which address the monetary problems associated with implementing a filtration system (US EPA).
“Agriculture | Region 2 | US EPA.” US Environmental Protection Agency. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.epa.gov/region2/agriculture/nycwatershed.html>.
“Watershed Agricultural Council.”Watershed Agricultural Council. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.nycwatershed.org/>.
