Opening a hydrant without a permit is a violation that is punishable by a fine up to $1,000 or 30 days in jail. City fire hydrants may be opened by authorized employees of the Department of Environmental Protection and the Fire Department at any time. However, the DEP and FDNY have procedures and guidelines for how residential New Yorkers and commercial businesses can gain access to fire hydrant use for recreational and non-recreational purposes. Almost every single block in New York City has at least one fire hydrant. Most people assume that they are there for exclusive use by the FDNY in case of a fire, however, you too can use a fire hydrant if you follow the necessary steps. (read more…)
Nora Machine is one of the world’s most advanced tunnel-boring machines. Photo: NYC Water.
The DEP commences the largest repair project in the history of the New York City’s water system. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection has since 1992 been monitoring two leaking sections of the Delaware Aqueduct—one in the Orange County town of Newburgh, and the other in the Ulster County town of Wawarsing. The leaks release an estimated 20-30 million gallons of water per day. All of the data gathered shows that the leak rate has remained constant and the cracks have not worsened since DEP began monitoring the two leaks in 1992. In 2010, the City announced a plan to address the leaks by building a permanent 2.5 mile bypass tunnel around the leaking section of the aqueduct in Newburgh. The 2.5-mile bypass will be constructed 600 feet below the Hudson River—from Newburgh on the West Shore to Wappinger Falls on the East Shore. (read more…)
