New York City System

The New York City Water Supply System delivers approximately one billion gallons of clean water daily to over 8.5 million NYC residents plus millions of tourists and commuters. The system also provides about 110 million gallons daily to roughly one million residents in Westchester, Putnam, Orange, and Ulster counties. In total, the NYC Water Supply System serves nearly half of New York State's population with high-quality municipal water.

Water Source: NYC draws its water from 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes across a nearly 2,000-square mile watershed. These water sources aren't located within the city limits but upstate in portions of the Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains, some as far as 125 miles north of the city.

The New York City Water System (PWSID NY7003493) comprises three separate supplies: the Catskill/Delaware supply in Delaware, Greene, Schoharie, Sullivan, and Ulster counties; the Croton supply (NYC's original upstate source) in Putnam, Westchester, and Dutchess counties; and a groundwater supply in southeastern Queens that hasn't been utilized in many years.

In 2017, NYC received a blend of water with approximately 97% from the Catskill/Delaware supply and 3% from the Croton supply.

Water Regulation: Municipal water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels across land or underground, it dissolves natural minerals and sometimes radioactive material, and can pick up substances from animal or human activities. Potential contaminants include microbial agents, inorganic compounds, pesticides, herbicides, organic chemicals, and radioactive materials.

To ensure safe drinking water, the New York State Department of Health and EPA establish regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. Similarly, FDA regulations set limits for bottled water. The presence of contaminants doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk.

Water Quality Monitoring: DEP's comprehensive monitoring program—exceeding legal requirements—shows that New York City's water quality remains high and meets all federal and state standards. DEP monitors water in the distribution system, upstate reservoirs, feeder channels, and source wells. In 2017, DEP conducted approximately 401,200 analyses on 36,120 distribution system samples, meeting all monitoring requirements. Additionally, DEP performed about 213,600 analyses on 14,169 watershed samples and collected nearly 1.2 million automated measurements to support watershed protection programs.

1. When is a permit required? Permits are required to assemble, enlarge, modify, repair, relocate, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, expand, alter, repair, remove, convert, or upgrade any electrical, gas, or plumbing system.
2. Who is responsible for obtaining permits? The individual or contractor performing the work must secure their own permit. Homeowners can obtain their own permit only if they're doing the work themselves. If a contractor or anyone besides the homeowner will do the work, they must get the permit. Homeowners remain ultimately responsible for activities on their property, so both parties are accountable when unpermitted work occurs.
3. How do I lease a Recreation Facility? Contact the municipal recreation department for facility rental procedures and availability.
4. Where does the city get its water? El Dorado Reservoir is an 8,400-acre lake storing over 50 billion gallons. This capacity allows the city to draw 22 million gallons daily even during a classified 50-year drought. Water travels through large mains from the lake to the treatment facility.
5. What do I do if my Trash or Recycle cart was not emptied? Please contact the Public Works Department at 322-4481.