Compromise at 11th Hour Clears Way for New York City Water Filtration Plant
A $1.3-billion water filtration plant for New York City will go forward after New York Gov. George E. Pataki (R) signed legislation clearing final obstacles late on July 22. The city entered a consent decree in 1998 to filter the 10 percent of its supply that moves through the Croton Reservoir. Rudolph Giuliani (R), mayor at the time, entered a consent decree with the federal government after the city incurred more than $400,000 in fines.
Preliminary plans call for much the plant to be constructed under a public golf course in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. Residents of the surrounding neighborhood oppose the project, or at least its siting. They have filed several lawsuits. Assemlyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D), warns that the plant "is going to be an environmental disaster."