The Cleaner, Greener, More Affordable Water Cooler for New York City

Almost since its inception, New York City has used a complex system of aqueducts to transport water from outside the city to its residents. Prior to the 1830s, the city distributed water through hollow logs laid in the streets, leaving the water exposed to dirt, grime, and contaminants. In the 1830s, the city switched to cast iron pipes to bring in water from the Croton River.

The Old Croton Aqueduct was built in the 1830s to provide water to over 60,000 residents. By the early 1900s, New York City residents needed more water, and city officials turned to the Catskill Mountain region. After construction of the Catskill Aqueduct completed in 1927, city officials set right out on the development of the Delaware Aqueduct, which pulls from the headwaters and tributaries of the Delaware River in New York State.

Today, the New York City water system originates from 19 protected reservoirs and  3 controlled lakes in upstate New York, providing 1.2 billion gallons of drinking water to roughly 9.3 million residents. According to the recent New York City Water Quality report, tap water well exceeds federal and state regulations. In fact, New York City has a reputation for having the finest tap water in the world. The Catskill/Delaware UV Disinfection Facility disinfects water with chlorine and ultraviolet (UV) light. The Croton water supply is filtered by the Croton Water Filtration Plant, located underground in the Bronx.

However, like many older cities, New York City tap water travels through hundreds of miles of older cast iron pipes, prone to corrosion and biofilm contamination. Clusters of deterioration and bacteria travel with water to faucets, resulting in water cloudiness, red water, and off-taste and odor. New York City also has the unique practice of storing water in rooftop tanks. As the city grew in the late 1800s, water mains could not keep up with requirements of the ever-taller buildings, and city planners turned to rooftop water towers.

The municipal government regulates New York City water infrastructure. However, water towers are under the supervision of the building owner and are often not cleaned, inspected, or tested per building and health codes. Water in these towers have been found to harbor E. coli, coliform, viruses, bacteria, and parasites.