Advocates are urging the Cuomo administration to create standards for drinking water. The call comes more than a year after a state committee was formed to make recommendations on contaminants in water supplies. With less than a week until a deadline, the committee has yet to make any recommendations. 

The state’s Drinking Water Quality Council hasn’t met since February. They were supposed to meet in March, but that meeting was cancelled and never rescheduled. 

Advocates are calling this a "failure of leadership." Clean water advocates, at the Capitol on Thursday, say there is only one way to ensure chemicals don’t pollute water supplies. 

"Maximum contaminant levels. Enforceable drinking water standards," said Liz Moran with Environmental Advocates of New York.

More than a year ago, Governor Andrew Cuomo created the Drinking Water Quality Council. The committee was tasked with making recommendations to the state Department of Health for Maximum Contaminant Levels for chemicals in drinking water like PFOA, most notably found in Hoosick Falls’ water supply; PFOS, detected in Newburgh; and 1,4-dioxane.

"Once again, our state has broken promises to us," said Hoosick Falls resident and NYWaterProject member Cathy Dawson.

With an October 2 deadline for recommendations, advocates like Dawson feel the state has failed them.

"It feels like we have had to consistently prod them to do what is right, and that is just not fair," she said.

Moran says even without the committee, there are other options. The governor could direct the the DOH to enforce standards.

"And they should do so. And they should set standards that are in line with current science," Moran said.

It’s unlikely the committee can convene in time to establish standards by the deadline. But advocates say late action is better than none.

The DEC and DOH released a joint statement, which reads: "New York remains deeply committed to providing access to clean drinking water for residents. While setting an MCL is an important step, it involves a complex regulatory process to set achievable and enforceable standards that will fully protect New Yorkers for decades to come. The EPA has failed to act, but the state is taking aggressive actions to ensure New Yorkers are not exposed to unregulated contaminants in their water supplies. The Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health have and continue to deploy unprecedented resources supported by an historic financial commitment to hold polluters accountable and to safeguard public health and the environment. We expect to continue our work and our commitment is unwavering."