Legislation Details

File #: Int 0730-2026    Version: Name: Requiring water quality testing and the posting of water quality testing results online.
Type: Introduction Status: Enacted (Mayor's Desk for Signature)
Committee: Committee on Environmental Protection and Waterfronts
On agenda: 3/10/2026
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring water quality testing and the posting of water quality testing results online
Sponsors: James F. Gennaro, Julie Won, Crystal Hudson, Farah N. Louis, Gale A. Brewer, Mercedes Narcisse, Chris Banks, Harvey D. Epstein
Council Member Sponsors: 8
Summary: This bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to conduct water quality testing at at least 15 testing sites within New York City’s waterbodies. The bill would require DEP to choose such testing sites in areas that are used for secondary contact recreation such as boating and fishing, within 1,000 feet of a combined sewer outfall, and within 5 to 20 feet of a waterbody’s shore or other access point, or as close as possible to a shore or other access point while maintaining 5 feet of water depth. Under this bill, such testing would be required monthly from November to April, and weekly from May to October. Finally, the bill would require DEP to post their water quality testing results online—bacteria results would be posted every week, and other water quality indicators would be posted quarterly.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 730-B, 2. Summary of Int. No. 730-A, 3. Summary of Int. No. 730, 4. Int. No. 730, 5. March 10, 2026 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 6. Proposed Int. No. 730-A - 3/24/26, 7. Committee Report 4/6/26, 8. Hearing Testimony 4/6/26, 9. Proposed Int. No. 730-B - 4/9/26, 10. Proposed Int. No. 730-B Fiscal Impact Statement - City Council, 11. Committee Report - Stated Meeting, 12. April 16, 2026 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 13. Int. No. 730-B (FINAL)
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
4/16/2026BJames F. Gennaro City Council Sent to Mayor by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/16/2026BJames F. Gennaro City Council Approved by CouncilPass Action details Meeting details Not available
4/15/2026*James F. Gennaro Committee on Environmental Protection and Waterfronts Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/15/2026*James F. Gennaro Committee on Environmental Protection and Waterfronts Amendment Proposed by Comm  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/15/2026*James F. Gennaro Committee on Environmental Protection and Waterfronts Amended by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/15/2026BJames F. Gennaro Committee on Environmental Protection and Waterfronts Approved by CommitteePass Action details Meeting details Not available
4/6/2026*James F. Gennaro Committee on Environmental Protection and Waterfronts Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/6/2026*James F. Gennaro Committee on Environmental Protection and Waterfronts Amendment Proposed by Comm  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/6/2026*James F. Gennaro Committee on Environmental Protection and Waterfronts Amended by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/6/2026AJames F. Gennaro Committee on Environmental Protection and Waterfronts Laid Over by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/10/2026*James F. Gennaro City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/10/2026*James F. Gennaro City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Int. No. 730-B

 

By Council Members Gennaro, Won, Hudson, Louis, Brewer, Narcisse, Banks and Epstein

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring water quality testing and the posting of water quality testing results online

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 5-a of title 24 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new subchapter 5 to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER 5

WATER QUALITY TESTING AT WATERFRONT PROPERTIES

§ 24-591 Waterbody testing. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Water quality indicator. The term “water quality indicator” means the following parameters as measured by the department: fecal coliform and enterococcus bacteria, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a, nitrogen, and water clarity.

Waterbody. The term “waterbody” means a waterfront located adjacent to the shoreline bordering New York city, or a waterway, such as a creek, river, canal, or channel, located within the geographical boundaries of New York city.

b. Testing. The commissioner shall conduct sampling and testing for water quality indicators at no less than 15 testing sites based on the following criteria:

1. At least once each month from November to April, and at least once each week from May to October.

2. The commissioner shall select such testing sites based on their location within:

(a) 1,000 feet of a combined sewer outfall;

(b) an area of a waterbody used for secondary contact recreation, such as boating or fishing; and

(c) within 5 and 20 feet from a waterbody’s shore or other access point, or as close to such distance as possible while maintaining a minimum of 5 feet of water depth at low tide for vessel navigation safety.

3. No testing site selected by the commissioner pursuant to this subdivision shall include a site at a waterbody being tested or surveyed by the department of health and mental hygiene.

c. Posting water quality information online. At least once each week the commissioner shall conspicuously post on the department’s website the final results of all sampling and testing conducted pursuant to subdivision b of this section for bacteria, including fecal coliform and enterococcus, and at least once each quarter the commissioner shall conspicuously post on the department’s website all other water quality indicators. The results of such sampling and testing required to be posted online pursuant to this subdivision shall be disaggregated by:

1. The type of water quality indicator tested;

2. The level of such water quality indicator found in the sample, indicated with units of measurement as determined by the commissioner;

3. The site where such sample was collected, including the approximate distance from the waterbody’s shore or other access point;

4. The date such sample was collected; and

5. The method of testing utilized to determine the measurement for each water quality indicator.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 270 days after it becomes law.

 

NNB/DPM

LS #12281

Int. #0031-2024

4/8/2026 10:27 PM