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.
New York City has been collecting water quality data in New York Harbor since 1909. These data are utilzed by regulators, scientists, educators and citizens to assess impacts, trends and improvements in the water quality of New York Harbor.
The first neighborhood playground in New York City to be fully reconstructed under the Community Parks Initiative (CPI) has been opened, including $500,000 of green infrastructure elements allocated by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). DEP distributed rain barrels to about 100 homeowners from several neighborhoods of Queens. Director of Stormwater Management Outreach Mikelle Adgate has been honored with an award by the Stormwater Infrastructure Matters (SWIM) Coalition. DEP's Catch Basin Inspection Unit celebrates the completion of the first year of a new program to inspect stormwater basins annually, as opposed to every three years.
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.
Watershed Annual Reports provide summary information about the watersheds, streams and reservoirs that are the sources of New York City's drinking water. They provide a general overview of the city's water resources, their condition during the year, and report on the Department of Environmental Protection's compliance with regulatory standards or guidelines. These reports are complementary to the New York City Drinking Water Supply and Quality Reports, also published annually.
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in partnership with the New York Aquarium, NYC Department of Sanitation and NYC Parks Department, had launched a public awareness campaign called Don't Trash Our Waters which aims to reduce litter and improve the health of the city's waterbodies. Chief Operator Tim Daly of the Croton Water Filtration Plant has been honored with the Operator of the Year Award by the New York State American Water Works Association (NYSAWWA). The DEP's 2017 Water-on-the-Go Program is underway, offering portable public drinking water fountains to promote the city's tap water. DEP has completed a new Bluebelt in Staten Island's Pleasant Plains neighborhood.