NEW YORK, NY October 24, 2009 —The Bloomberg administration says Albany's plan to allow natural gas drilling near drinking water reservoirs would leave the water supply open to contamination. WNYC's Ilya Marritz reports the city and state appear to be headed for a clash over the issue.

REPORTER: As the acting commissioner of environmental conservation, Steven Lawitts is the city's top cop for tap water. Lawitts told a city council committee that gas drilling in the Catskills could spoil the source of water for nine million people. He's shared his concerns with Albany. But...

LAWITTS: There hasn't been a lot of feedback from the state.

REPORTER: Lawitts has asked Albany for more time to review the state's proposed safeguards for drilling near reservoirs. State officials say the measures are sufficient to keep New York's water clean. On November 10th, the state will hold a public meeting in Manhattan on the proposed rules.

For WNYC, I'm Ilya Marritz