Media Center

Lead to Plastic: Are We Trading One Hazard for Another?

April 27, 2026 BackgrounderNew York, United StatesValerie Baron

Dangerous, outdated lead service lines have got to go. We must not waste this generational investment and place New York’s drinking water at risk of new contamination by replacing lead with plastic pipes.

Advocates, Lawmakers, and Residents Urge Lawmakers to Pass Lead Pipe Replacement Act to Protect Clean Water

March 11, 2026 Press ReleaseNew York, Albany

Today, advocates, lawmakers, and New Yorkers impacted by lead poisoning gathered at the Capitol to call for urgent action to eliminate lead pipes from New York’s drinking water systems.

Coalition Files Legal Petition to Demand the EPA Address Syracuse Lead Water Crisis

July 28, 2025 Press ReleaseNew York

Local and national organizations call for action after more than a year of poisoned water.

Advocates Decry NYS Assembly Leadership Inaction to “Turn off the Tap” on Toxics to Protect New Yorkers’ Health

June 17, 2025 Press ReleaseNew York

Senate passage of key bills left hanging, health care and cleanup costs hang over municipalities and residents.

The Social Burden of PFAS “Forever Chemicals” in New York

June 9, 2025 BackgrounderNew YorkKate Donovan, Dr. Anna Reade

PFAS-related health care impacts in the state are likely to cost billions of dollars unless swift and comprehensive actions are taken to reduce New Yorkers’ exposure.

Legislative Leaders Announce Bills to Protect New Yorkers from Exposure to Dangerous PFAS

February 5, 2025 Press ReleaseNew York

Legislators today announced the bills they are sponsoring to protect New Yorkers from exposure to PFAS through everyday household items such as textiles, dental floss, cleaning products, cookware, children’s products, cosmetics, and menstrual products.

Gov. Hochul Signs Bill to Halt Drilling and Fracking Using CO2

December 22, 2024 Press ReleaseAlbany

Governor Kathy Hochul has signed into law a ban on drilling using carbon dioxide (CO2) in New York State (A8866/ S8357), which adds to an existing ban on fracking in the state.

Syracuse Fails to Show Drinking Water Is Safe from Lead

November 1, 2024 Press ReleaseNew York

In yet another attempt to avoid responsibility for the lead-contaminated water flowing to taps in Syracuse, New York, the city government announced yesterday that it suspended two water department employees for misconduct in the lead-testing program, implying falsely that this…

Syracuse Lead Levels Among the Highest Detected in Drinking Water for Decades; Higher than Flint and Newark

October 16, 2024 Press ReleaseNew York

Local and national groups seek emergency response from city and state.

NYC Proposes Bill to Shift Cost of Lead Pipe Replacement to Property Owners

June 18, 2024 Press ReleaseNew York City

The New York City Council has proposed a controversial new bill that would require property owners to take on the task and expense of replacing all of their building’s lead water service lines within the next ten years, costing them thousands…

Report: An Estimated One in Five New Yorkers May Be Drinking Water from Lead Service Lines

July 18, 2023 Press ReleaseNew York City

According to a new report, No Excuses, NYC: Replace Lead Drinking Water Pipes Now, an estimated one in five New Yorkers, or 21% of the City’s residents, may be drinking water transported through lead service lines.

Advocates Defend ‘the Birds and the Bees’ with Nation-Leading Legislation

February 27, 2023 Press ReleaseAlbany

A coalition of organizations flocked to Albany to rein in toxic neonic pesticides.

New York City Votes to “Skip the Stuff” in Take-Out Orders

January 19, 2023 Press ReleaseNew York City

The New York City Council voted (43-7) today in favor of the “Skip the Stuff” bill (Intro 0559), which would prohibit takeout and delivery services from providing plastic utensils, condiments, or napkins unless explicitly requested by the customer. The bill’s…

Buffalo Community Groups Join Map Project To Find and Replace Lead Water Pipes

July 20, 2022 Press ReleaseBuffalo

Community advocates, the water utility, and mapping experts collaborate to document where Buffalo’s lead pipes are located, as records are incomplete or inaccurate

Birds and Bees Protection Act Public Hearing Sparks Debate

September 20, 2021 Press ReleaseNew York

Environmental, Health, and Farming Groups Flocked to Public Hearing on Neonics

360,000 Lead Pipes May Deliver Water to Homes in New York

July 19, 2021 Press ReleaseNew York

New York has 360,000 lead pipes delivering water to people’s homes statewide, the fourth highest number of any state in the nation, according to a new survey from NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). New York State has committed, although not entirely allocated, $5 billion in clean water infrastructure…

New York Set to Adopt Leading PFAS Protections

July 30, 2020 Press ReleaseNew York

The New York State Department of Health today affirmed that the state is set to adopt drinking water standards for PFOA and PFOS – two man-made chemicals linked to cancer and other health issues.

New York Proposes New Drinking Water Standards

July 8, 2019 Press ReleaseNew York

The New York State Department of Health today recommended new drinking water standards for PFOA and PFOS – two man-made chemicals linked to cancer and other health issues. If adopted, the newly recommended drinking water standard, at 10 parts per…

New Dinner Party Planning Calculator Can Help Hosts Waste Less Food This Thanksgiving

November 1, 2017 Press ReleaseNew York

NEW YORK, NY – Just in time for Thanksgiving, a new digital calculator is taking the guesswork out of portion planning to help hosts reduce the massive amount of food, money and resources that go to waste around the holiday…

Two-Thirds of Food Wasted at Home in Three Major U.S. Cities Is Edible

October 25, 2017 Press ReleaseNew York

Pair of Reports Also Reveals 68 Million More Meals Annually Could Potentially Be Donated to People in Need Across NYC, Denver and Nashville