Mission
The Bureau of Public Health Engineering, through technical monitoring, surveillance, and enforcement action is responsible for assuring the citizens of the city of New York that the quality of their public water supply complies with all Federal, State and City standards. The Bureau is also responsible for assuring that all recreational bathing facilities (beaches, indoor/outdoor pools, saunas and steam rooms) are constructed and operated in compliance with all State and City standards for the purpose of protecting public health and safety. The Bureau is also responsible, in cooperation with the other appropriate City and State agencies, for investigating sanitary sewage conditions which pose a threat to public health and safety, and taking remedial enforcement action as necessary.
Bureau Functions
The Bureau of Public Health Engineering performs the following major functions:
- • surveillance sampling of the drinking water supplied to New York City
- • routine inspections of water treatment facilities and disinfection stations
- • annual inspection, and pre-permit review of recreational bathing facilities
- • investigations of all drowning/injury incidents at permitted bathing facilities
- • responding to complaints regarding water related illness and improper sewage disposal
- • routine inspection of indoor and outdoor pools
Major Issues
Enhanced Drinking Water Surveillance Program
The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has primacy over the regulation of drinking water quality throughout New York State. NYSDOH has entered into agreement with NYCDOH whereby the City is currently responsible for surveillance water sampling and inspections of water treatment facilities within the distribution system, or generally within the confines of New York City.
For more information, call 311.
