According to a study by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), sediment deposition in New York City's water supply reservoirs has reduced total storage capacity of the system by 2.4 percent. However, the fact that sediment is primarily collecting in areas deeper than the lowest intakes means that the loss of capacity will not affect water supply operations or reliability. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) once again offered its popular Valentine's Day tours of the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has teamed up with the Office of Emergency Management (NYCEM) to combat water-related emergencies through Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs). DEP has begun a $35 million project to improve drainage and enhance Jack's Pond in Staten Island's Great Kills neighborhood. The hydroelectric turbine at the Neversink Tunnel Outlet recently underwent maintenance and repairs. The West of Hudson Tree Task Force was recently called out to the Shandaken Tunnel Intake Chamber to assist the Bureau of Engineering Design and Construction (BEDC) with hazardous tree removal. Current DEP executives and employees went on a tour of the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant with the plant's original Chief Engineer, Joseph T. Miller.
The Cross Connection Control Program is one of the tools DEP employs to protect the City's water supply system by requiring specified businesses to install and maintain approved backflow prevention devices.
Drinking water for New York City is supplied from several large reservoirs, including a system of reservoirs west of the Hudson River. To provide updated reservoir capacity tables and bathymetry maps of the City's six West of Hudson reservoirs, bathymetric surveys were conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey from 2013 to 2015.
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 New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is developing a strategic plan and has appointed Diana Jones Ritter in the new role of Chief Strategy Officer. DEP donated a fossil from the oldest fossilized forest in the world to the Bilboa-Conesville Central School. The Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant will once again be opened February 10th to the public for special Valentine's Day tours. Earlier this month, DEP hosted 9th and 11th grade AP Environmental Science students from George Westinghouse High School in Brooklyn at the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant for a field trip.