State offers local drinking water protection funds

AlbanyThe state is offering free help for local governments that want plans to protect their public drinking water supplies from contamination and environmental threats.On Monday, the state Department of Environmental Conservation announced it has some $3 million to fund creation of such plans by up to 30 localities during the next three years under the new Drinking Water Source Protection Program.In return, local officials will be expected to commit their own staff and resources to helping to c