The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has accomplished many significant milestones since the first issue of its Weekly Pipeline Newsletter in 2010, including the activation of the Croton Water Filtration Plant and the Manhattan portion of City Tunnel 3, and the initiation of a major repair to the Delaware Aqueduct. In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, New York City employees are able to directly donate a portion of their paychecks to hurricane relief efforts. DEP has announced a number of new initiatives and updated rules and regulations aimed at improving air quality. A $15 million project to upgrade sewer infrastructure and water mains along Bloomingdale Road in Staten Island has been completed three months ahead of schedule.
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)'s Bureau of Engineering, Design and Construction (BEDC) is engaged in several large capital projects to improve the city's water supply infrastructure, including the replacement of gates and valves in the New Croton Dam, and a permanent water release tunnel from Schoharie Reservoir around the Gilboa Dam. Gardeners from the Bureau of Water & Sewer Operations (BWSO) have discovered monarch catterpillars and chrysalides for the second year in a row in Queens rain gardens. DEP will be hosting an annual Family Fishing Day on Sunday, September 17 at the Woodstock Dike on Ashokan Reservoir.
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Department of Design and Construction (DDC) have completed the largest ever expansion of the Staten Island Bluebelt, an artificial wetland system which helps manage stormwater and reduce localized flooding. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has accepted DEP's Certification of Completed Construction for the $5 billion Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade. NYC tap water was awarded the top prize at the 2017 Regional Tap Water Taste Contest held at the American Museum of Natural History. Water-saving automatic shut-off timers and activation buttons have been installed on 400 spray showers at City playgrounds.
Integral pieces of the $30 million tunnel boring machine (TBM) that will be used to repair a leak in the 85-mile-long Delaware Aqueduct have begun to arrive in Newburgh. Earlier this year, the machine was named Nora after trailblazing suffragist and engineer Nora Stanton Blatch Deforest Barney. 135 young people participated in the 2017 Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) summer internship program. Sheep have been deployed to Rondout Reservoir to help maintain the facility's grassy fields after peviously having been stationed at Neversink Dam.
After 10 years of outreach through the Hydrant Education Action Team (HEAT) program, reports of illegally opened hydrants have fallen by more than 60 percent. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) joined with Council Member Andy King to distribute rain barrels to approximately 100 Bronx homeowners from the Wakefield, Olinville, Edenwald, Eastchester, Williamsbridge, Baychester, and Co-op City neighborhoods. Ground was broken on a project to convert an asphalt schoolyard at JHS 189Q in Flushing, Queens, to a playground with green infrastructure elements.
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announces the Ashokan Century Program, a comprehensive $750 million project to upgrade infrastructure and facilities at the Ashokan Reservoir in Ulster County. Work will be performed on the main dam and dikes, spillway channel, and dividing weir bridge, as well as the Catskill Aqueduct headworks and chambers and a monument to J. Waldo Smith, the Chief Engineer of the original construction. Work continues on the Delaware Aqueduct Bypass Tunnel, with preparations in place for the start of tunnel boring. DEP joined local elected officials to distribute rainbarrels to around 320 homeowners on the South Shore of Staten Island.
This report found that there was a steady decline in sugary drink consumption among adults between 2007 and 2013; however, between 2013 and 2015, the prevalence stagnated (24% in 2015). There was no change in overall sugary drink consumption prevalence among teens between 2013 and 2015. Among children 6 to 12, there was a decline in consumption between 2009 and 2015. Recommendations are included for health care providers, schools, community leaders, retailers, and all New Yorkers to reduce and eliminate consumption of sugary drinks.
The Always Creating Excellence (ACE) program recognizes New York City Department of Environmental Protection staff members that have exhibited outstanding effort, and have gone above and beyond the call of duty to serve the people of New York City.
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) partnered with Mayor Bill de Blasio to announce a $115 water and sewer bill credit to more than 53,000 low-income homeowners. An education team from DEP participated in and sponsored part of the City of Water Day event recently held on Governor's Island. Acting Commissioner Vincent Sapienza gave welcoming remarks at the 25th Annual ReLeaf Conference at St. John's University in Jamaica, Queens. The New York City Green Infrastructure Grant Program is now offering funding for projects citywide. DEP employees, friends, and family participated in the third annual NYC Disability Pride Parade in Manhattan.
July marks the 175th anniversary of the first delivery of water through New York City's Old Croton Aqueduct. The New York City Deparment of Environmental Protection (DEP) will begin a new groundwater drainage feasibility study in southeast Queens. Also in Queens, the DEP's Bureau of Water and Sewer Operations recently completed several drainage and flooding alleviation projects in the neighborhoods of St. Albans, Jamaica, South Jamaica, Laurelton and Rosedale. The New York City Chapter of Trout Unlimited planted nearly 150 native trees along Muscoot Reservoir, which will improve environmental quality and stream bank stability.
The report presents data on emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations related to dog bite injuries, as well as data on dog bites reported to the Health Department.