Historic Signing of Agreement for Sale of Ashokan Field Campus Announced

Open Space Institute, NYCDEP, Campus Auxiliary Services (SUNY) Come to Terms on Future of Site

The Open Space Institute (OSI) and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) today announced the acquisition by the Open Space Conservancy (OSC), the land acquisition affiliate of OSI, of the 394-acre Ashokan Field Campus. OSC acquired the property from Campus Auxiliary Services (CAS), an affiliate of the State University of New York, New Paltz, and will subdivide the property and sell a portion to NYCDEP to facilitate water supply operations, and transfer the remaining portion to the Ashokan Foundation, a new non-profit group that will continue to run educational, cultural and arts programs on the property. The Open Space Institute, which has protected 100,000 acres of scenic open space in the Hudson River Valley, played a pivotal role in the transaction by acquiring the site, initiating a subdivision and facilitating partnership between the Ashokan Foundation and NYCDEP for the future use of the property.

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NYC DEP Releases its Climate Change Assessment and Action Plan

New DEP Projects to Incorporate Climate Change Considerations in Planning

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced the release of its Climate Change Assessment and Action Plan, a comprehensive report detailing the extensive work the Department has undertaken to better understand and plan for the potential impacts of climate change on the city’s water and sewer systems. The report outlines specific steps that DEP is taking to refine climate change projections for New York City and its watershed region, better quantify risks to existing systems, integrate climate change data into departmental planning for new projects, and develop both short-term and long-term adaptation strategies for critical infrastructure.

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• Read the report

Mayor Bloomberg Announces Results of the Work of the Flood Mitigation Taskforce

City Creates Emergency Flood Response Plan, Similar to City's Snow Response Plan

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced the results of the work of the Flood Mitigation Taskforce, created in response to extreme weather events throughout the City last year. The goals of the Taskforce were to first, develop a citywide emergency flood response plan to coordinate agency responses to predicted and in-progress heavy rain events; second, develop community education and outreach materials for empowering residents to protect themselves and their property; and third, identify and examine Stormwater Mitigation Study Areas for strategies that will improve stormwater management in the most affected areas in the short term. The Mayor was joined by the Director of the Mayor's Office of Operations, Jeffrey Kay, the Commissioner of the Office of Emergency Management Joseph Bruno, Community Affairs Commissioner Nazli Parvizi, and Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Emily Lloyd at the event, which marked the beginning of flood season in New York City.

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• Learn more about flooding in NYC

'Pay-by-Phone' Bill Payment Service Now Available in Spanish

Servicio de Pago Por Teléfono Está Disponible en Español

The free "pay-by-phone" water and sewer bill payment service recently launched by DEP and the New York City Water Board now offers service in both English and Spanish. The Interactive Voice Response feature is convenient for customers and builds on previous service enhancements by the Bureau of Customer Services. The toll free number (866) 622-8292 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will allow for partial, full, and advanced bill payments without a transaction fee.

• Información en español
• Pay Your Water and Sewer Bill
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Statement from DEP Commissioner Emily Lloyd on FY '09 Water Rate Proposal

"Last year at this time," states Commissioner Lloyd, "Water Board rate projections indicated the likely need for a double digit increase of 11.5% in FY '09. A few key factors, however, have contributed to the need for an ’09 increase of 14.5%, or three points higher than predicted."

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• Read Questions and Answers about the water rate proposal

NYC DEP Begins Enforcement Actions on Delinquent Water and Sewer Accounts

94 Percent of Delinquent Customers Paid Before Service Termination

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today that it has started service terminations to residential properties for non-payment of water and sewer bills. Of 93 properties identified over the last several weeks for service termination, only 5 were terminated; 94% paid or entered into a payment agreement before service was actually terminated. In addition, 1 property owner took advantage of DEP's newly created Safety Net Referral Program, which provides help to seniors, those affected by the nationwide predatory lending, mortgage and foreclosure crisis, and others having difficulty paying their bills.

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NYC DEP and Water Board Launch 'Pay-by-Phone' Bill Payment Service

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the New York City Water Board launched a toll free “pay-by-phone” water and sewer bill payment service on March 3. The Interactive Voice Response (IVR) feature is convenient for customers and builds on previous service enhancements by the Bureau of Customer Services. The toll free number (866) 622-8292 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will allow for partial, full, and advanced bill payments without a transaction fee.

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• Pay Your Water and Sewer Bill

NYC DEP Announces Internship Opportunities for College Students

The Bureau of Water Supply (BWS) is sponsoring a summer internship program for 10 college students and graduating high school seniors who are presently enrolled in accredited college programs. The interns are expected to be assigned to seven different DEP facilities in Delaware, Greene, Schoharie, Sullivan and Ulster Counties. The internships run from early June 2008 until late August 2008, depending upon the academic calendar of each intern.

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Important Information on New York City's Water Supply

Recently, there have been several media reports about the presence of trace pharmaceuticals in the nation's drinking water supply systems. New York City has some of the highest-quality drinking water in the world, and though nothing in the information we've seen presents a risk to this water supply, we understand and take very seriously public concerns about pharmaceuticals in drinking water and continue to closely monitor this emerging national issue, in cooperation with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

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• Get helpful answers to questions you might have about this important national issue

Beware of Imposters Posing As "NYCDEP" Employees

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued a warning to NYC homeowners to beware of imposters posing as a "DEP" employee. DEP learned that in separate instances an individual posing as a DEP inspector gained access to local homes by claiming the homeowners were in arrears in water bill payments, needed to fix a broken meter or needed to have the meter read.

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Preparation Underway to Fix Leak in Delaware Aqueduct

Progress towards goal set in PlaNYC
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection announced today that it has successfully completed an important step in the eventual repair of the 45-mile Rondout-West Branch (RWB) Tunnel, which has been leaking for nearly two decades. For approximately two weeks, a team of divers, working 24 hours a day in rotating shifts, were lowered 700 feet in order to inspect mechanical and structural components of a tunnel unwatering shaft and to take measurements for new equipment. The RWB Tunnel is part of the Delaware Aqueduct, a vital component of the City’s drinking water supply system. The investigations will ultimately inform the development of a comprehensive repair program for the Delaware Aqueduct.

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2008 Water Conservation Art & Poetry Contest

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection is proud to announce the 22nd annual Water Conservation Art & Poetry Contest. This year, for the first time, we are inviting fourth grade students to join fifth and sixth graders to creatively express their understanding of our City's valuable water resources through art and poetry.

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Mayor Bloomberg Signs Legislation Allowing Department Of Finance To Sell Tax Liens Until 2010

"This legislation provides an essential set of enforcement tools while maintaining a safety net for our most vulnerable populations – senior citizens, people with disabilities and low income homeowners," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Most importantly, this legislation will remedy the unfair burden placed on responsible property owners who carry the costs of water and sewer service for those who do not pay."

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Statement Of The New York City Water Board

The New York City Council approved legislation to authorize the sale of stand alone liens on multi-family residential properties that are seriously delinquent in the payment of their water-and-sewer bills. The Board is confident that the lien sale authority, together with other enforcement programs, and an expanded Payment Incentive Plan will generate the necessary revenue to meet the water utility’s needs for the remainder of this fiscal year. We also anticipate that this action will have a positive, long-term impact on revenues in future years. The Board is therefore withdrawing its previous proposal to consider a mid-year rate increase.

• Read the full statement (PDF)

Mayor Bloomberg and Speaker Quinn Announce Agreement Authorizing Water Lien Sales

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn announced an agreement on legislation authorizing lien sales for the collection of overdue taxes and water bills, including for the first time, the authority to initiate lien sales to collect water and sewer fees from residential properties that do not also owe back taxes. In conjunction with the legislation, the Mayor and the Speaker agreed to implement a one-time Payment Incentive Program (PIP), relating to water and sewer charges.

• Read the press release on NYC.gov

State-City Agree to Major Expansion of Recreational Access to Catskill Watershed Lands

Approximately 11,000 acres of New York City-owned land adjacent to State Forest Preserve land in the Catskills will be open to hiking, hunting, fishing and trapping without the need for a City permit under a cooperative agreement between the City and the State. State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis and City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) Commissioner Emily Lloyd announced that DEC will patrol the City watershed property to enforce regulations, help protect the environment, and further assist in the management of these lands. The change will be in effect for the 2008-2009 hunting season.

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DEP Implements New Customer Dispute Resolution Form

DEP now offers an easier way for water and sewer customers to file and resolve billing disputes. Simply fill out a Customer Dispute Form online, print, and send the completed form to DEP’s Customer Complaint division. The new, standardized form will enhance the dispute resolution process, and ensure that all billing matters are resolved quickly and efficiently. For more information, contact DEP’s Customer Call Center at (718) 595-7000 Monday through Saturday, 9AM to 5PM, or Tuesday and Thursday, 9AM to 8PM.

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DEP Report Identifies Strategies to Improve the Ecological Health of Jamaica Bay

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today released the Jamaica Bay Watershed Protection Plan, which outlines a comprehensive set of strategies to restore and maintain the water quality and ecological integrity of Jamaica Bay. The two volume document, which took just under a year and a half to produce, includes a thorough profile of the Jamaica Bay Watershed and a blueprint for the future management of the Bay. Most notably, the plan builds on the Mayor’s PlaNYC, recommending a series of Best Management Practices for storm water management.

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• Download the Executive Summary (PDF)

Gilboa Dam Project Update

On October 19, 2007, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection presented an update on the Gilboa Dam project to the Schoharie Board of Supervisors.

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Update on Air Quality Testing from 130 Liberty Street Fire

Air Quality Testing Is Ongoing
Following Saturday's fire, the Department of Environmental Protection instituted air quality testing at the 130 Liberty Street site to supplement testing that has been ongoing during the building deconstruction project. Sampling stations set up as part of the deconstruction project test for several contaminants and particulate matter.

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New York City Granted Historic Ten-Year Filtration Avoidance Determination Agreement

Mayor Bloomberg and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Steve Johnson have announced the issuance of a 10-year Filtration Avoidance Determination (FAD) by the EPA for the City's Catskill/Delaware drinking water supply system. This recent FAD acknowledges the world-class quality of New York City's drinking water system by doubling the length of previous FADs, and contains the most comprehensive watershed protection program for any City in the world.

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