The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP) is a government agency responsible for managing the city’s water supply and wastewater treatment. The department also controls air and noise pollution, manages and protects the city’s wetlands, and oversees the city’s sewer system. Learn more with this brief look into the NYC DEP and what it does.
Wastewater Treatment
The DEP manages wastewater treatment. Wastewater is water that has been used in homes and businesses, including water from dishwashing, bathing, laundry, flushed toilets, and discharge from industrial locations.
Most areas of NYC have a combined sewer system. A combined system collects stormwater and wastewater in shared pipes. The DEP responds to any problems with the system, such as overflow events caused by severe storms.
Water Supply Management
One of the primary roles of the DEP is to ensure residents have access to safe and clean drinking water. A watershed is a land area that drains water into specific bodies of water, such as streams, creeks, rivers, and reservoirs. To protect the city’s water source, the DEP maintains NYC’s watershed, which stretches over 2,000 miles.
Water Distribution Management
The water distribution system carries potable water from a treatment plant to homes and businesses. The DEP services over 7,000 miles of pipes in the city’s distribution system.
When there are problems with the pipe system, the DEP works to fix them. Leaking pipes waste treated water and money, and they can allow contaminants into drinking water. The department monitors the system, maintains its components, and works efficiently to repair leaks.
DEP Water Notices
This brief look into the NYC DEP and what it does highlights the department’s importance to our city’s welfare. If the DEP finds a leak in a private water service line, they will notify the property owner with a 3-Day or 10-Day notice.
The property owner is responsible for hiring a licensed outdoor plumber to complete the repairs within the indicated timeframe. Not fixing the leak could lead to water service shutoff.
Harris Water Main and Sewer has a team of licensed plumbers who perform efficient water main leak repairs. If you’ve received a 3-Day or 10-Day notice or suspect a leak in your private line, contact us for fast and friendly service.
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