New York City has some of the best tap water in the world. Every day, clean drinking water travels from our upstate reservoirs through thousands of miles of aqueducts, tunnels and water mains to homes, schools, and businesses across the five boroughs.
For generations, New Yorkers have trusted the water that comes from their tap. That trust is well placed. Our water is safe, sampled regularly and closely monitored, but there is still more work to do.
While New York City’s public water piping and infrastructure is entirely lead-free, some privately owned pipes, usually serving older homes are still lead or galvanized service lines. These older lead pipes, which connect a property to the City’s water mains, were installed decades ago and remain the responsibility of property owners.
Protecting New Yorkers — especially our most vulnerable — is at the core of the Mamdani Administration’s mission and replacing privately owned lead service lines is a top priority for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEPhttps://nyc.gov/site/dep/index.page. Because lead, even in small amounts, can cause irreversible harm to young children and to people who are pregnant or may become pregnant.
That is why New York City has launched one of the most ambitious lead service line replacement efforts in its history.
With $96 million in state and federal funding, DEP is replacing lead and galvanized service lines at no cost to eligible homeowners. The program has already helped 982 homeowners in the Bronx and Queens, saving families more than $10,000 each while removing aging infrastructure from their properties. The program is expected to remove up to 7,000 lead service lines in neighborhoods that have historically faced disproportionate environmental burdens.
For many homeowners, that kind of expense would be difficult or impossible to absorb. By covering the full cost, the City is helping families make an improvement that protects both their health and their home. This is what environmental justice looks like in practice: delivering real improvements directly to residents.
Yet even with the replacement offered at no cost, many eligible homeowners have declined to participate. That is understandable. Construction to replace a service line can be temporarily disruptive. But the long-term benefit is significant: a permanent solution that removes an aging lead pipe and provides peace of mind for current and future generations.
The Mamdani Administration is ramping up outreach to eligible communities to get more people signed up. Eligible homeowners receive a letter from DEP explaining the opportunity and how to enroll, but we’re hitting the streets with door-to-door outreach, neighborhood flyering, community presentations, and tabling at local events. We’re also pushing the message out through a dedicated website, informational videos, multi-lingual materials, press and social media. During National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, we’re calling on local elected officials, community leaders, grassroots organizers and environmental justice groups: help us spread the word.
DEP is committed to replacing as many lead service lines as possible and finding ways to secure funding to help low-income homeowners. Every lead service line removed is one less source of worry for a parent, one more family with confidence in their drinking water, and one step closer to a future where no New Yorker has to think twice about the type of pipe delivering NYC’s great drinking water to their home.
Lisa F. Garcia
Commissioner
NYC Department of Environmental Protection
59-17 Junction Boulevard
Queens, NY 11373
About NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is a City agency responsible for managing New York City’s water supply, delivering high-quality drinking water, collecting and treating wastewater, and protecting the City’s waterways. DEP also oversees stormwater management and flood resilience initiatives, enforces air and noise pollution regulations, and works to reduce exposure to hazardous materials. Through its infrastructure, environmental protection programs, and public services, DEP plays a vital role in protecting public health and maintaining the quality of life of New Yorkers across all five boroughs.
Featured image credit: DepositPhotos.com
