New York funding to improve water quality

In a move that stands to improve local water quality, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $86,811,000 (£53,073,000) to the New York State Department of Health.

The funding, which is also expected to create jobs and boost local economies, will help local governments finance many overdue improvements to water projects that are thought to be essential to protecting environmental health across the state, according to EPA acting regional administrator George Pavlou.

"This funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will help ensure clean water, which is vital to the health of every city and town across New York State," said Mr Pavlou.

Money from the Recovery Act - which aims to save and create three to four million jobs this year and next year - will go to the state's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund programme, which provides low-interest loans for drinking water systems to finance infrastructure improvements.

Written by Lauren Steadman