Question

Answer the FOLLOWING questions in paragraph format:

• Where does NYC drinking water come from?
• How is the drinking water quality monitored?
• How is the infrastructure maintained?
• What are some methods of disinfection?
• Are there any pipes that contain lead in the system?

Answer 1

Where does NYC drinking water come from?

NYC is New York City drinking water comes from three watersheds the Croton, Delaware and Catskill. They supply 1.5 billion gallons of water through network 6000 miles pipes and subterranean. This man-made network is a great achievement in the field of engineering. The pollutants in the water are naturally filtered by the farms and swamps in the watersheds and are pure safe for drinking.

How is the drinking water quality monitored?

Robotic buoys are used to monitor the water quality, it measure temperature and the pH, microbial levels and also nutrient levels are checked in the reservoirs. Water quality is predicted with a computer system which also analyzes the measurements. Water in monitored from feeder streams to the street side stations in every neighbourhood. Scientists collect samples to analyse the water quality in the laboratories. Analysis takes place chemically, physically and also microbiologically where in National primary drinking water regulations are followed.

How is the infrastructure maintained?

The infrastructure of NYC includes the aqueducts, reservoirs, pipes that distribute the water and tunnel channels. All these are maintained by the New York City department of environmental protection, they keep implementing programs and plants to maintain the infrastructure. The maintenance of the water supply is taken care by the Bureaus of water and sewer operations.

Are there any pipes that contain lead in the system?

Water is delivered through 7000 miles virtually lead free tunnels, aqueducts and also the water main. But home that where built before 1961 have lines made of lead and few houses do have plumbing’s that are of lead so there may be lead in the water. Though DEP takes the responsibility to supply high quality drinking water but it is not able to control the builders from using plumbing components made of lead.

What are some methods of disinfection?

Water treatment undergoes filtration process in the water plant like coagulation, filtration and disinfection process take place. Water is treated with chlorine that kills bacteria. To strengthen the teeth fluoride is added. To decrease the lead released from the household pipes orthophosphate is added. Sodium hydroxide is added to reduce corrosiveness.