Protection of water quality is also

Protection of water quality is also a priority. The Catskill Mountains supply drinking water for New York City. When agriculture and residential developments threatened surface-water quality, the city considered building an $8 billion water
treatment plant, but instead opted to spend $1 billion buying land and restoring habitat in the water supply catchment. This approach obviated the need for a treatment plant, saved the city billions of dollars in capital and ongoing operations
and maintenance costs, and preserved a critical ecosystem (40).