Some civic groups and environmentalists say they are livid that Suffolk County is considering tapping into its drinking water protection program to help balance the budget.

Presiding Officer William Lindsey has proposed taking nearly $18 million out of the program to avoid raising taxes. The program that environmentalist Dick Amper says keeps Suffolk's drinking water clean.

The proposed legislation would take money out of the portion for maintaining sewers. Amper says the existing program ?helps stabilize sewers because it?s also important to have sewers to keep drinking water clean.?