Creates a public education program concerning water use reduction for communities which rely on groundwater for water supply; expands the water conservation manual; requires smart controllers for automatic irrigation systems,
STATE OF NEW YORK
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10395
IN SENATE
May 15, 2026
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Introduced by Sen. BYNOE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
creating a public education program concerning water use reduction;
and expanding the water conservation manual
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 8 of section 15-1501 of the environmental
2 conservation law, as added by chapter 401 of the laws of 2011, is
3 amended to read as follows:
4 8. The department shall establish a water conservation and efficiency
5 program with the goals of (a) ensuring improvement of the waters and
6 water dependent natural resources, (b) protecting and restoring the
7 hydrologic and ecosystem integrity of watersheds throughout the state,
8 (c) retaining the quantity of surface water and groundwater in the
9 state, (d) ensuring sustainable use of state waters, and (e) promoting
10 the efficiency of use and reducing losses and waste of water. For
11 communities that rely on groundwater as their water supply, and are at
12 risk from saltwater intrusion, the department shall develop and imple-
13 ment a public education program to explain to water users in all sectors
14 the necessity of water use reduction. Such program shall explain the
15 limitations and describe effective actions to ensure the sustainability
16 of the water supply.
17 § 2. Paragraph g of subdivision 2 of section 15-1503 of the environ-
18 mental conservation law, as added by chapter 401 of the laws of 2011, is
19 amended to read as follows:
20 g. the proposed water withdrawal will be implemented in a manner that
21 incorporates environmentally sound and economically feasible water
22 conservation measures, including mandating use of smart controllers for
23 automatic irrigation systems; and
24 § 3. Subdivision 3 of section 15-1503 of the environmental conserva-
25 tion law, as amended by chapter 401 of the laws of 2011, is amended to
26 read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15866-02-6
S. 10395 2
1 3. In order to assist the development of local water conservation
2 programs for public water supply systems, the department shall continue
3 to publish and distribute a water conservation manual that includes
4 beneficial near term and long range water conservation procedures which
5 reflect local water resource needs and conditions. Such water conserva-
6 tion manual shall be revised and updated every five years. The first
7 update shall be published in two thousand twenty-eight and then every
8 five years thereafter. Such manual shall include examples of:
9 a. methods of identifying and determining the cost effectiveness of
10 distribution system rehabilitation to correct sources of lost water;
11 b. measures which encourage proper maintenance and water conservation;
12 c. a public information program to promote water conservation, includ-
13 ing industrial and commercial recycling and reuse;
14 d. household conservation measures; [and]
15 e. contingency measures for limiting water use during seasonal or
16 drought shortages[.], and local emergencies or disasters;
17 f. best management practices for specific sectors of the water-using
18 community designed to increase engagement and specific actions to
19 increase water conservation;
20 g. recommended changes to water irrigation practices; and
21 h. rebate programs to offset the cost of smart controllers for auto-
22 matic irrigation systems required by paragraph g of subdivision two of
23 this section.
24 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
