(WENY) -- As New York recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, $220 million is coming to provide safe drinking water to Upstate communities.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand from New York Monday announced the funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“New York has some of the oldest sewer systems in the country, and last year, nearly 200 waterways that provide drinking water in the state were found to contain contaminants flagged as dangerous by the EPA,” Sen. Schumer said. “This federal funding will help address the hazard that aging water infrastructure presents to the health of thousands of New Yorkers. I will continue to fight tooth and nail to make sure that New York gets every dollar it needs to replace and repair every inch of waterway that will keep New Yorkers safe and healthy.”

According to a release, the bulk of the grant funding will support low-interest loans for the improvement of water quality protection infrastructure projects. This includes modernizing wastewater infrastructure, recycling water, and addressing stormwater.

Schumer and Gillibrand say $45 million of the total funding is going toward the New York Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program, which provides low-interest loans and principal forgiveness for the construction of drinking water and infrastructure projects, and for the administration of small system technical assistance, source water protection, capacity development, and operator certification.

“Access to clean water is a right, and New York’s communities deserve clean drinking water and wastewater systems they can trust,” Sen. Gillibrand said. “This EPA funding is great news for the New York Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds and will improve the quality of vital water infrastructure, enhance our water recycling system, and protect our state’s lakes and rivers. I will continue fighting for the resources needed to enhance public health and provide New Yorkers with access to safe and reliable water.”