NYC Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP)

Bluebelts are ecologically rich & cost-effective drainage systems that naturally handle runoff from the heavy rainfall that is becoming more common in NYC. Our #Bluebelt program ALSO hosts a diverse habitat for native plants and wildlife.🌻 🌳🍃🦆🦌🐇#WorldNatureConservationDay #NYCWater

Students Visit DEP Aviation The DEP Police Aviation Unit recently hosted students in grades 9–11 from the Pine Bush High School Summer Enrichment Academy. During the visit, students learned about helicopters, aviation maintenance, and the mission of the DEP Police to protect New York City’s most vital resource — its water supply. Pilot Detective Scott Hogan and Helicopter Mechanic Derek Kautz shared their expertise on topics such as aircraft operation, instrumentation, airplane systems, communications, and meteorology. Students also had the opportunity to participate in a flight simulation and take part in a hands-on flight lesson. #NYCWater #Aviation #LawEnforcement

Field Highlights: Laborer Danny Curto works for our Bureau of Water and Sewer Operations, helping to prevent flooding by making sure our city's catch basins are always in good working order. Danny says he especially loves that he gets to keep his neighborhood of #Whitestone flowing! #NYToughest💪 #NYCWater #WaterCareers

Invasive Species Awareness On June 11, DEP joined the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP) at the Ashokan Station Trailhead to celebrate New York State’s 12th annual Invasive Species Awareness Week. The event, held along the scenic Ashokan Rail Trail in Shokan, brought together partners, land stewards, and environmental educators to raise awareness about the threats invasive species and deer overpopulation pose to healthy forest regeneration in the Ashokan Basin. Presentations highlighted ongoing efforts to manage invasive plants and pests, as well as strategies to reduce the impacts of high deer densities on young forests. By combining research, partnerships, and innovative field techniques, DEP is working to ensure that the forests surrounding our reservoirs continue to filter and protect New York City’s drinking water for generations to come. #NYCWater #DrinkingWater #InvasiveSpecies

🎤In the city that never sleeps, neither do we! Welcome to the overnight shift with DEP's Gabe Lopez, who joins our Leak Detection Team in Times Square. These "water main whisperers" use specialized sound equipment 🩺 to hunt for small leaks before they become big problems.

Out of the Archives, 100 years then and now! A trench for water distribution pipes in Williamsburg attracted lots of onlookers at Hooper Street near South 5th. July 24, 1925. http://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.pbit.ly/2tKkvDE. #tbt

Bronx Flood Prepardeness DEP held a flood preparedness town hall in the Bronx earlier this month to distribute flood kits — including barriers, sump pumps, and sensors — and provide vital information to residents. Community members and elected officials gathered at New World High School in Wakefield, where Deputy Commissioner Beth DeFalco spoke about different types of flooding, what DEP is doing to make the city more resilient, and how homeowners can better protect their properties. The event was attended by Congressman Ritchie Torres, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, and Council Member Kevin Riley. DEP distributed 167 flood kits and attendees also had the opportunity to speak directly with DEP experts, including Deputy Commissioners Mike Farnan and Angela Licata, Bronx Borough Manager Tony Pellizi, and Bronx Borough Commissioner Eleftheria "Effie" Ardizzone Ardizzone. A big thank you to Sara Pecker, Colin Murphy, Alicia West, and the many DEP staff whose hard work made this event possible. DEP will continue to host town halls, with upcoming events planned in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island. #NYCWater #Flooding #Stormwater

Times Square OHNY Tour On July 10, 25 lucky New Yorkers joined DEP’s Bureau of Water and Sewer Operations (BWSO) for a rare, behind-the-scenes midnight inspection of water mains in Times Square, led by the Leak Detection Team. The event, held in collaboration with Open House New York (OHNY) as part of the yearlong Waterworks series, offered attendees a firsthand look at how DEP uses stethoscope-like listening devices to detect underground leaks before they escalate into costly and disruptive water main breaks. Working at night — when the city is quietest — these skilled crews can monitor up to 40,000 feet of water mains per shift. Guests even had the chance to listen to the city’s water infrastructure themselves and hear directly from Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala, Deputy Commissioner Beth DeFalco, and Manhattan Field Operations Manager John Castiglione. With 618 people requesting to attend, this popular tour was a major success. Huge thanks to the BWSO and BPAC teams for making it happen! #NYCWater #OHNY ##LeakDetectionTeam #FieldOperations #DEPBehindTheScences

Electric Vehicle on Patrol DEP Police have rolled out their first fully electric patrol vehicle, now assigned to the Eastview Precinct in Valhalla, Westchester County. The vehicle is fully equipped with all the necessary gear to protect the watershed, but now with a smaller carbon footprint. DEP Police are responsible for safeguarding New York City’s vast water supply system, which includes two dozen reservoirs and lakes, more than 2,000 square miles of watershed land across nine counties, hundreds of miles of tunnels and aqueducts, and numerous dams, treatment plants, laboratories, and other critical facilities. #NYCWater #ElectricVehicle #LawEnforcement

Keeping NYers safe means making sure our infrastructure is ready for the next big storm! Last year, our team cleaned 106 miles of sewers and removed enough debris to fill more than two Olympic-sized swimming pools! Now, that's how to keep NYC flowing! #NYCWater