The Bureau of Public Health Engineering, through technical monitoring, surveillance, and enforcement action, is responsible for assuring that quality of New York City drinking water, as distributed by public supply or obtained commercially as bottled water, is in full compliance with Federal, State, and local standards. This task is accomplished by surveillance sampling and performance of water treatment facility inspections. The primary regulatory statutes governing this program are Part 5 of the New York State Sanitary Code, Article 141 of the New York City Health Code, and the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act.
The Bureau also assures that the quality of waters used for recreational purposes, at pools and beaches, are constructed and operated in compliance with Subpart 6 of the New York State Sanitary Code, and Articles 165 & 167 of the New York City Health Code which protect the public health and safety. Routine annual inspection, plan review, and construction compliance inspections are an integral part of this program. During the summer months, the Bureau monitors the quality of the City's bathing beaches by collecting weekly water quality samples for bacteriological analysis and performing health and safety inspections at each of the beaches. Investigation of drowning episodes occurring at permitted beaches and pools is also performed by Bureau staff.
The Bureau has the responsibility, in cooperation with other State and City agencies, for investigating sanitary sewage conditions posing a threat to public health and safety, and taking remedial enforcement action as necessary to abate the public nuisance. Such nuisances are abated by issuing a Health Order to the polluter or City agency [Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) or Housing Preservation and Development (HPD)] to correct the problem.
Drinking water complaints can be called into the Bureau for direct response or are referred from the Department's Central Complaints Unit. Complaints are responded to in a timely manner based on the classification of the complaint as immediate, prompt, or routine. The Bureau also responds to complaints involving bottled water, beach water, public and private pools, and sauna/steam rooms.
Permit Information:
The New York City Health Code requires an application to be submitted for approval of permits for all regulated facilities. The following is a description of the information to be submitted and necessary to obtain the permit type requested. All applicants use the same standardized form, Application for Permit, Form 314C (Revised 4/95).
For more information, call 311.
