On August 9^th, Governor Cuomo signed the "Sewage Pollution Right to Know" into law. 

This law was created to inform the general public when public sewer system discharges are made into waterways.  "New Yorkers have a right to know when potentially harmful, untreated sewage is discharged into waterways in their communities," Governor Cuomo said.

Discharge notifications are currently provided to certain public officials, but not the general public. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens said, "Sewer discharges affect the public's ability to safely swim, fish and recreate. This new law will provide the public with important information about New York's water bodies and further DEC's efforts to make all waterways in the state fishable and swimmable." 

The new law will also require the DEC to release an annual report of discharges of treated or untreated waste from publicly owned sewage treatment plants and systems.  Additionally, the report will entail the volume and duration of discharges, and the remedial responses.

As one of the NYLCV's priority bills, New York has once again moved in the right direction towards a sustainable future.