July 14, 2025

NYC DEP will have a sludge boat parked at Newtown Barge Playground in Brooklyn for several months to help keep our waterways clean.

New York City treats 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater every single day. A large portion of Brooklyn’s wastewater is treated in Greenpoint at our Newtown Creek facility. Some material must be moved off-site by sludge boats.

Right now, we’re repairing one of our regular boats, so we need to use the temporary dock at Newtown Barge Playground because the other boats in our fleet can’t maneuver tight turns to get to our usual dock. This boat will be parked at the temporary dock a few hours a day for the next couple months. If you’re walking by, please stay clear of the area.

Learn more about New York City’s Wastewater Treatment System.