Living in New York City is full of surprises, from unusual interactions on the subway to sudden weather changes at the most inopportune times. However, warning notes from the Department of Environmental Protection is perhaps one of the most stressful curveballs that NYC can throw at you. Here is a helpful guide to the 10-day DEP notice and what you need to know to ensure the easiest and most pleasant experience.
3-Day vs. 10-Day Notices
If you receive a 10-day notice on your property, it means you failed to respond to an earlier “3-day” notice sent by the DEP. A 3-day notice is served to commercial and residential buildings when problems with the water main arise on the premises. Specifically, this official warning indicates that there is a leak in the cross-connection between your private pipes and public service lines. Furthermore, this notice informs the property owner of their responsibility to fix these problems within three full business days—extensions on this period are possible but extremely rare. Ultimately, the DEP serves 10-day notices if these required repair services do not occur.
The Basics of the 10-Day Notice
So, what exactly does the 10-day DEP notice demand of property owners? When served following a failure to comply with the 3-day notice, the 10-day official warning often comes with a fine of up to $2,000. Even more devastating, these notices are alwaysfollowed by the DEP shutting off water service to the impacted property. However, in terms of demands, this warning is similar to the original: the property owner must to rectify the plumbing issue within a period of 10 full business days. Once completed, water services are resumed, and the entire process is over.
Other Causes of the 10-Day Notice
While most 10-day notices are served after a 3-day notice, some are for other causes. For instance, ruptures in water mains that pose a significant threat of flooding the street or harming others may constitute a 10-day warning from the DEP. Other reasons for this notice include undermining—which leads to sinkholes—over-active water lines, and backflow from the water main or fire suppression system.
Now that you’ve read this guide to the 10-day DEP notice, you’ve learned what you need to know to ensure a successful and simple process. Learn more about NYC DEP standard sewer and water main specifications here at Harris Water Main & Sewer today!
