October 20, 2005

Contact: Charles G. Sturcken (718) 595-6600

DEP Convenes Nationwide Conference

America’s Drinking Water: Can We Deliver?
The Future of Engineering and Water Quality into the Next Century

DEP Commissioner Emily Lloyd and USEPA Region 2 Administrator, Alan J. Steinberg today welcomed over 250 water supply specialists and engineers from New York City and State and across the nation at an-all day conference, taking place from 8:30 am to 5 pm at the Museum of the American Indian at Bowling Green.  The conference was convened in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Board of Water Supply in 1905 and New York City’s modern drinking water system.

Commissioner Lloyd said, “When the Board of Water Supply was constituted in the early 20th Century, its mandate was to oversee expansion of New York City’s water supply and delivery infrastructure to meet the needs of the City’s burgeoning populations and expanding industrial and commercial sectors.  Today, water supply professionals and engineers face many similar challenges.  Aging infrastructure, growing demand, and assaults on water quality are issues requiring attention from the water delivery industry.  I am pleased that the response to our agenda has been so positive,” continued Commissioner Lloyd.  “We are fortunate to be the beneficiaries of the great vision that preceded us.  We can still learn from them as well as from one another.”

Attendees and participants from as far as Southern California, San Francisco, Cleveland, Ohio, Washington, D.C., Albany, New York, and Boston, Massachusetts will participate in morning and afternoon panels.  The morning session, Water Supply Dependability, will explore issues such as reliability of supply, infrastructure repair and maintenance, upgrades, expansion of water sources, future demands and the potential failure of delivery systems.  The afternoon program, Water Quality, will consist of presentations on the future of water utility regulations, national perspectives on water quality and new water treatment technologies.

For further information about the conference, contact the Public Affairs Office of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) at (718) 595-6600 or to learn more about the New York City Water Supply visit the DEP website at www.nyc.gov/dep.