New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Vincent Sapienza reviews several of the agency's accomplishments from the past year, including the Delaware Aqueduct Bypass Tunnel project and green infrastructure enhancements. Drilling has commenced on the tunnel section of the Delaware Aqueduct Bypass Tunnel. Shotcrete, a unique form of concrete, is applied to rock excavations such as the shafts of the Delaware Aqueduct Bypass Tunnel to prevent rock from falling off the walls and potentially striking workers.
Personnel from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) worked to ensure that critical services operated without significant interruptions during the recent historic cold spell. A team from the Bureau of Water and Sewer Operations helped to administer humanitarian aid in Puerto Rico following damage caused by Hurricane Maria. 2017 figures for water supply and analysis from the City's watersheds are summarized.
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has received a ten year waiver from the New York State Department of Health (DOH), known as a Filtration Avoidance Determination (FAD), which will allow the city to continue delivering unfiltered drinking water from its Catskill and Delaware water supply systems. These systems comprise the largest unfiltered water supply in the United States, delivering about 90 percent of New York City's water on a typical day. DEP employees generously donated toys for needy children during this year's holiday season. This year's DEP holiday party was held on December 20th at Russo's on the Bay in Howard Beach, Queens.
Final 2017 Filtration Avoidance Determination prepared by the New York State Department of Health in consultation with the United State Department of Environmental Protection, outlines a long-term watershed protection plan for the New York City water supply.
Reports on the development, progress and achievements of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection's source water protection programs established to maintain the Filtration Avoidance Determination (FAD) for the Catskill/Delaware portion of the New York City water supply.
The former Brookfield Landfill on Staten Island has been transferred to NYC Parks and is officially open to the public after years of remediation. New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Vincent Sapienza joined with Mayor Bill de Blasio to applaud the New York Court of Appeals decision to uphold the Water Board's issuance of credits to homeowners. A total of 1,646 boats were used in 2017 through DEP's recreational boating program, the most of any year since rentals began in 2014. NY1 News produced a feature on the Delaware Aqueduct Bypass Tunnel, with comments by Commissioner Sapienza and Deputy Commissioner Paul Rush.