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Delaware Aqueduct Repair Project
Project Update: May 2025 - DELAYED
NYC's Pepacton Reservoir. Photo from the DRBC archives.

On May 5, 2025, the NYC Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) DELAYED the repair & shutdown of the Delaware Aqueduct until after 2027 & new contract.

  ⇒ NYC DEP to Develop New Contract for Final Connection of Delaware Aqueduct Bypass Tunnel Following November's Project Pause (May 5, 2025, news release)

  ⇒ Get Delaware Aqueduct Repair Project Updates from DEP


Public Information:

The DEP will provide updates before, during and after the shutdown occurs, so everyone is aware of the project's status.

The DRBC will help share project information to Delaware River Basin stakeholders on this webpage and social, by email listservs and via its Regulated Flow Advisory Committee. Please check back for updates.

Project Background


Background

The 85-mile-long Delaware Aqueduct is the world's longest tunnel. It transfers water from the three NYC Delaware River Basin Reservoirs (Cannonsville, Pepacton and Neversink) via the Roundout Reservoir to New York City. Roughly half of the city's population, plus other communities along the route, get their drinking water from this reservoir system.

The Delaware Aqueduct has been leaking upwards of 35 million gallons per day since the 1990s. In 2010, New York City announced a $1 billion plan to repair these leaks. After a decade-plus of coordinated, technical, engineering study, planning and modeling, the DEP will need to temporarily shut down the Delaware Aqueduct to complete the repair.

In the months preceding the shutdown, the NYC Delaware Basin Reservoir levels will need to be lowered. The fall timing to start the repair was chosen because demand for water is at its lowest. During the shutdown, DEP will not be diverting water from these reservoirs for water supply; however, they will continue releasing water into Delaware River tributaries pursuant to the Flexible Flow Management Program, a water allocation agreement between the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware and the City of New York.


Project History:

Project Information/Resources


NYCDEP Webpage


Project Factsheet


Presentations Given

Project Contacts


NYCDEP Contact

DRBC Contact