Highest Value Watershed Protection Land Purchase in New York City’s History

Acquisition Emphasizes DEP’s East-of-Hudson Source Water Protection Efforts Ahead of New Filtration Avoidance Determination

$12.56 Million Purchase of More Than 48 Acres in the Kensico Reservoir Basin Helps Ensure the Region’s High-Quality Water for Generations to Come

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced the highest value watershed land purchase ever made to protect the City’s drinking water supply. The $12.56 million acquisition of more than 48 acres near the Kensico Reservoir in Westchester County is consistent with the agency’s evolving science-based priorities in water quality protection efforts and a major investment in safeguarding clean, high-quality water for generations to come.

The newly purchased land sits within the Kensico Reservoir watershed—a critical point in the City’s water system where nearly all drinking water from upstate reservoirs flows before reaching consumers’ taps. Protecting land in this area helps prevent pollution from reaching the water supply and reduces the need for costly treatment.

This purchase is the single most expensive land acquisition DEP has ever made for watershed protection. Over nearly 200 years, New York City has acquired or protected more than 200,000 acres of land across its upstate watershed, primarily in the Catskill Mountains, where most of the City’s drinking water originates. All of that water ultimately passes through the Kensico Reservoir on its way to homes and businesses across the region.

DEP already owns land along the entire shoreline of the Kensico Reservoir and several nearby parcels. Adding this forested 48-acre property increases protection of natural streams and hillsides that help filter stormwater before it reaches the reservoir. The purchase aligns with a recent recommendation from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to prioritize investments in land parcels that offer the greatest water-quality benefits.

Since the late 1980s, Federal rules have required municipal surface-water supplies to be filtered and disinfected. New York City and select other municipal water supplies have been able to achieve a waiver to filtration—known as a Filtration Avoidance Determination (FAD)—when extraordinary efforts are undertaken to protect the water supply at its source. New York City’s most recent 10-year waiver is up for renewal at the end of 2027. Building a filtration plant for the entire supply from the Catskills would surpass the largest capital investment the City has ever undertaken.

DEP is closely monitoring potential risks to water quality, including climate-driven extreme weather, droughts, and changing regulations. These efforts help ensure that the City remains ahead of emerging challenges, particularly in Westchester and Putnam counties, where development pressures and evolving water quality concerns require proactive and adaptive management.

The Kensico Reservoir, located just north of White Plains, has supplied water to New York City since 1915. It can hold up to 30 billion gallons of water and typically handles about 90 percent of the City’s total drinking water supply, as well as water for much of Westchester County.

About the NYC Department of Environmental Protection

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing approximately 1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water each day to nearly 10 million residents, including 8.5 million in New York City and more than a million in counties north of the City. The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses, and 7,500 miles of sewer lines and 96 pump stations take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants. DEP also protects the health and safety of New Yorkers by enforcing the Air and Noise Codes and asbestos rules. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on X.