Nearly Four Miles of Water Mains Upgraded in Forest Hills, Rego Park

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Nearly Four Miles of Water Mains Upgraded in Forest Hills, Rego Park

Work completed over $5 million under budget and six months ahead of schedule

DEP: 718-595-6600, DEPPressOffice@dep.nyc.gov
DDC: Denisse Moreno, morenoDe@ddc.nyc.gov, 718-391-1854

(Queens, NY – May 1, 2024) The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) today announced the completion of a $9 million infrastructure project in Queens that upgraded nearly four miles of older distribution water mains in Rego Park and Forest Hills, ensuring the long-term reliability of water service in the neighborhoods. The project, which was managed by DDC for DEP, concluded approximately six months in advance and 39 percent under its original budget of nearly $15 million.

The project replaced almost four miles of water mains, some dating back 100 years, in Rego Park and Forest Hills

“Upgrading water mains is a key component of DEP’s ongoing efforts to improve and maintain the city’s water supply infrastructure,” said NYC DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “The mains that were targeted for upgrades in Forest Hills and Rego Park were installed between 1924 and 1950 and had outlived their usefulness. Thanks to our partnership with DDC, we can ensure that residents of these neighborhoods will continue to have reliable water service for many years to come.”

“We were able to achieve these time and budget savings using Joint Bidding, where the City’s water main work plus related private utility work is all bid in one contract held and managed by DDC,” said NYC Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Thomas Foley. “DDC’s Community Outreach team also did an outstanding job coordinating utility shutoffs with local schools and religious institutions so that we could be good neighbors and meet the needs of the community. We’ll keep working with DEP to upgrade the water system throughout Queens.”

A 12-inch diameter water main is replaced on Saunders Street and 63rd Avenue

Old cast iron water mains of up to 20 inches in diameter were replaced with new pipes made of ductile iron, a more durable material. To enhance fire protection, 63 fire hydrants were upgraded and nine new hydrants were added. Nearly 800 feet of curb were replaced, and more than 5,000 square feet of sidewalk were upgraded.

The project also installed about 900 square feet of porous pavement to improve street drainage, while new reinforced concrete bus pads were installed at 67th Road and 66th Road on 108th Street.

Work began in September 2022 and was originally anticipated to conclude in September 2024. The project was done with Joint Bidding, which allowed all the City’s work and related private utility work to be bundled together under one contract that DDC manages. DDC estimates that it saves over $100 million of taxpayer money per year by using Joint Bidding, which started in Manhattan in 2004 and has since been expanded to other boroughs.

A new 8-inch diameter water main is installed on 66th Avenue

“Today marks an important community milestone as DDC and DEP celebrate the successful completion of a $9 million water main project in Rego Park and Forest Hills, reaffirming our commitment to enhancing our neighborhoods and improving lives," said Councilmember Lynn Schulman. "This project directly benefits residents in my district, improving long-term water service reliability in Queens neighborhoods by replacing 3.6 miles of century-old water mains. It's a much-needed improvement that meets the pressing needs of our community."

"I congratulate DEP and DDC for completing this much-needed water main project in Forest Hills and Rego Park," said Councilmember James Gennaro, Chair of the New York City Council's Committee on Environmental Protection, Resiliency & Waterfronts. "It is so important that the city invest in these types of improvements, especially as climate change continues to worsen, straining our sewer system. The completion of the $9 million project under budget marks a testament to our commitment to enhancing water service reliability for New Yorkers."

"I want to thank the workers of DDC and DEP for completing this project not only ahead of time but also under budget,” said Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi. “These upgrades made to nearly four miles of water mains will improve service reliability for our constituents and for that I am grateful."

"Investing in infrastructure not only enhances the quality of life for communities but also demonstrates the power of effective collaboration and project management,” said State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. “The successful completion of the $9 million water mains upgrade project in Queens showcases the dedication and efficiency of the NYC Department of Environmental Protection and the NYC Department of Design and Construction in ensuring long-term water service reliability for residents. This achievement stands as a testament to the importance of proactive planning and execution in building a sustainable future for our cities.”

“This is a much-needed improvement to our community’s infrastructure,” said Community Board 6 Chair Heather Beers-Dimitriadis. “The community liaison was very responsive to any issues that arose and kept us informed of all aspects of the project including water shutdowns, restricted parking, etc. This was key in keeping our community informed throughout the project.”

DEP is committed to improving and maintaining water service infrastructure around New York City. This year, the city is on track to see the fewest number of water main breaks on record. There were 42.1 percent fewer water main breaks through the first four months of Fiscal 2024 compared to the same period in Fiscal 2023, decreasing from 95 to 55.

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 more than 9 million residents, including 8.3 million in New York 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 throughout the five boroughs, and 7,500 miles of sewer lines and 96 pump stations take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants. DEP has a robust capital program, with a planned $29 billion in investments over the next 10 years that will create up to 3,000 construction-related jobs per year. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor Adams’ long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $33 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to City projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.