New York Municipalities Will Now Save Millions Of Dollars Come January Thanks To Schumer’s Bill To Exempt Fire Hydrants From New Epa Rule

Washington, DC - December 18, 2013 - U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that thanks to just-passed legislation, the Community Fire Safety Act of 2013, municipalities across New York State will no longer be forced to throw out and replace millions of dollars-worth of in stock fire hydrants after January 4, 2014. Specifically, Schumer announced that legislation, which passed the Senate last night by unanimous consent, will permanently exempt fire hydrants from reduced-lead standards and overturn a recent EPA rule to the contrary. The House of Representatives passed a companion bill last week, sponsored by Representative Paul Tonko, and the law will now go to the President’s desk for signature.

Schumer explained that on October 22^nd, the EPA released its interpretation of the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act of 2011, and for the first time disclosed that fire hydrants will be subject to new reduced lead standards, due to the very rare occurrence that hydrants provide drinking water. Schumer said that that this sudden mandate by the EPA had taken local water authorities, public safety officials, and hydrant manufacturers by surprise across the country, demonstrated by the tens of thousands of hydrants – at $1,200 or more a piece – that are sitting in their stockyards ready for installation. Schumer also noted that members of Congress did not intend for hydrants to be included in the new reduced-lead drinking water standards when the law was originally written, noting that bath tub and shower parts are not forced to comply.

“The EPA’s sudden mandate to include fire hydrants, which are not a prime source for drinking water, in their reduced-lead standards was a classic case of federal bureaucracy unwisely harming our local communities and their budgets.  Thankfully, common sense prevailed and members from both parties and both houses came together to pass this bill that saves municipalities across New York millions of dollars in costs that would otherwise be flushed away,” said Schumer.  “I thank my colleagues in the Senate and Representative Tonko in the House for advancing this legislation; it was a commonsense measure and the right thing to do, since the costs outweighed any potential safety benefit.  Last night’s passage was a huge win for local governments across New York who can now avoid needless waste, and for average New Yorkers who are now spared potential rate hikes in the New Year.”

Last night, the Senate approved by unanimous consent the Community Fire Safety Act of 2013, which was passed by the House of Representatives earlier this December.  The House bill was introduced by Representative Paul Tonko (D-NY).  Schumer and Sens. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) had offered a bill identical to the House measure, but used the House bill because it could pass the upper chamber more quickly, which was essential with only a few days left to legislate this year.

Schumer noted that more than just costs were spared, because hydrants must undergo third-party testing to ensure that they meet standards for effectiveness of a hydrant’s fire-fighting capacity.  If the mandate had remained in place, cities and towns might not have been able to secure compliant replacement hydrants in time to meet the new standards.  So if a fire hydrant was damaged after January 4^th and needed to be replaced, the municipality may have been unable to do so, due to a lack of compliant hydrants in reserve.  Schumer explained that New Yorkers actually may have been put at risk by the new rule, especially given the increased need for replacement hydrants during the winter months.

Passage of the Community Fire Safety Act of 2013 means that hydrants are permanently exempt from the reduced lead standard and municipalities throughout the state can use their stockpile of fire hydrants, which will save them millions of dollars, prevent rate hikes on water utilities, and will save countless cities, towns and water districts the labor costs and man hours it would have taken to salvage parts and dispense of non-compliant hydrants.  Schumer provided local data on the amount of money municipalities will save thanks to this legislation:

Capital Region:

According to local officials in the Capital Region, at least $80,000 in reserve hydrants and parts can now be used after January 4^th:

·           Albany has 5 hydrants in reserve worth approximately $8,000;

·           Colonie has approximately 40 hydrants in reserve, valued at $48,000;

·           Saratoga Springs has 7 hydrants, valued at $10,500;

·           Troy has 7 reserve hydrants, costing $8,400;

·           Schenectady has 2 hydrants in reserve, valued at $2,400, but the city plans to install them this week in order to avoid wasting them once the law takes effect in January.

Western New York:

According to Western New York officials, at least $554,900 in stockpiled hydrants and parts in Western New York can now be used after January 4^th:

·         The City of Dunkirk has 3 hydrants in reserve, valued at $3,600;

·         The City of Jamestown has 18 hydrants in reserve, costing $21,600;

·         The City of Niagara Falls Water Department has 33 hydrants in reserve, valued at $1,600 apiece, as well as $50,000 in parts, for a total of $102,800;

·         The City of Lockport Water Department has 12 hydrants in reserve at $1,200 apiece, and $10,000 worth of parts, for a total of $24,400;

·         The City of North Tonawanda has 7 hydrants in reserve at $2,000 apiece, plus $6,000 in parts, for a total of $20,000;

·         The Erie County Water Authority has 73 new replacement hydrants valued at $109,000; 200 incomplete hydrants they use for parts valued at $100,000; and an additional $100,000 in new parts, for a total of $309,000;

·         The City of Olean has 9 spare hydrants - at $1,500 each – plus an addition $30,000 in replacement parts, for a total of $43,500;

·         The City of Salamanca has 5 hydrants - at $2,000 each – plus and additional $20,000 in replacement parts for a total of $30,000.

Rochester-Finger Lakes:

In sum, at least $420,000 in spare hydrants and parts can now be used after January 4^th:

·         The City of Rochester now has 100 complete hydrants in stock at a cost of $1,200 each, plus an additional $100,000 worth of hydrant spare parts and brass fittings, for a total of $220,000;

·         Monroe County Water Authority also has an estimated $200,000 worth of spare hydrants and parts now in inventory that can now be used. 

Central New York:

In total, at least $425,000 in hydrants and parts can now be used after January 4^th:

·         Specifically, Onondaga County now owns and operates 14,000 complete hydrants and has over 200 hydrants in reserve, at a cost of $1,200 each, for a total of $240,000;

·         The City of Syracuse has 5,500 hydrants and keeps parts and spare hydrants in stock, at an estimated cost of $160,000;

·         Oneida County – represented by the Mohawk Valley Water Authority – has 12 hydrants in stock and more in parts, for a total of $25,000 in value.  

North Country:

In sum, at least $40,200 in replacement hydrants can now be used after January 4^th:

·         According to city officials, Plattsburgh has 18 reserve hydrants and they estimate replacement cost at between $1,800 and $2,000 apiece, or approximately $34,200;

·         Glens Falls has 5 hydrants in reserve at an estimated cost of $6,000. 

Southern Tier:

In sum, at least $75,600 in stockpiled hydrants in Binghamton and Ithaca can now be used after January 4^th:

·         According to Binghamton officials, the City has 40 hydrants in reserve, at approximately $1,500 apiece. The City estimates that it would cost upwards of $12,000 in labor costs to break down the existing inventory for parts, if they would have been forced to comply with the new interpretation, for a total of $60,000;

·         Ithaca has 13 hydrants in inventory, costing $15,600.

Hudson Valley:

According to local officials in the Cities of Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, Kingston, and Yonkers, at least$411,525 can now be used after January 4^th:

·         Newburgh has 8 hydrants in reserve, worth approximately $2,000 apiece, for a total of $16,000;

·         Kingston has an estimated 3 hydrants in reserve, valued at a total of $2,400, and approximately $15,000 in parts, for a total of $22,200;

·         Poughkeepsie has 25 new hydrants in reserve, worth $4,125 apiece, for a total of $103,125;

·         Yonkers has approximately 100 hydrants in reserve – at between $2,500 and $3,000 apiece – for an averaged total cost of $275,000.

New York City:

New York City estimates that it would have had to throw out over 1,300 hydrants and hydrant parts worth over $1 million, and spend even more in taxpayer money to buy new hydrants that comply to EPA standards. In total, the city would have wasted over 1,300 man hours in the process. Now both labor and stockpile costs have been saved thanks to the passage of the legislation.

Long Island:

Suffolk County Water Authority alone estimates they would have had to throw out $450,000 worth of hydrants and hydrant parts, and spend even more in ratepayer money to buy new hydrants that comply to EPA standards.  Nassau County faced a similar situation. It would have taken hundreds of man hours to order and replace the stock already in existence.  Now both labor and stockpile costs have been saved thanks to the passage of the legislation.