New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is responsible for ensuring clean, safe water delivery to buildings. Sometimes, they may shut off water to address sanitation concerns or unpaid bills. Losing your water service can lead to serious consequences, including building code and health violations or even being forced to leave your home. It might also affect your heating system, your insurance policy, or your mortgage, so it’s important to address DEP notices quickly.
Learn three reasons DEP may terminate the water supply to your home and the preventive steps you can take, as well as tips for what to do if your service is already at risk or if you’ve received a water shut-off notice.
Non-Payment of Water Bills
If your account becomes delinquent, the DEP may issue a water shut-off notice. This notice will outline the deadline for paying the bill in full or making a qualifying down payment as part of a payment agreement. If neither action is taken before the deadline, the DEP will shut off the water.
Once your water service is terminated, you must pay the full outstanding amount or set up a payment plan to have it restored. Additionally, a termination fee will be added to your bill. After resolving the payment issue, you’ll need to contact DEP to request the reconnection of your water service.
Addressing an Emergency
DEP may terminate the water supply to your home in response to emergencies like leaks or flooding caused by your home’s service line. Property owners are responsible for maintaining their service lines, which is the plumbing that connects the home to the city’s water main. If DEP identifies your service line as the source of a hazard, you’ll likely receive notification and recommendations for immediate repair.
Resolving such emergencies involves hiring a licensed master plumber to carry out necessary repairs and paying all associated fees to DEP. Taking care of these issues promptly safeguards not only your water access but also the surrounding infrastructure.
Health and Safety Violations
For DEP, protecting public health is a priority, and they have the authority to shut off water to address serious health and safety concerns. Sewage problems, for example, can pose significant risks to neighboring properties and public spaces. DEP typically becomes aware of sewer line problems if sinkholes appear in roadways or individuals notice sewage leaks. DEP will investigate these problems, and if the broken sewer line is traced back to your property, you may receive a Cease & Desist notice.
A Cease & Desist notice will require emergency sewer repair to restore safe sewage management. Licensed plumbers will excavate the sewer line and install the new pipe. After the installation, DEP will inspect the new pipe. Failure to make timely repairs can lead to the DEP terminating service and issuing non-compliance fines.
Losing water service can disrupt your life and lead to financial and safety issues. Whether the problem stems from unpaid bills, emergencies, or health violations, it’s crucial to act fast to resolve it. Be prepared to follow DEP guidelines, hire licensed plumbers, and pay any overdue balances or repair costs. Taking these steps ensures your water service is restored quickly and helps prevent further complications.
