Temporary Discharge of Groundwater into the City Sewer System

If you are working on a construction project that will need to temporarily discharge groundwater to a sanitary, storm or combined sewer, lowering the groundwater table, you need to follow the Sewer Use Regulations in Title 15 of the Rules of the City of New York (RCNY) Chapter 19. This applies to all construction projects, no matter how big or small.

If you expect to discharge more than 10,000 gallons of groundwater per day, you must also obtain a groundwater discharge permit from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). This permit lets you discharge groundwater into the City sewer system (Sanitary, Storm or Combined sewers) for a limited period of time. To obtain this permit, you need to submit a Temporary Discharge of Groundwater into the City Sewer System application.

Before You Submit Your Application

• Write a cover letter: Describe your project.

• Follow Sewer Use Regulations: Make sure your business complies with the Sewer Use Regulations if you need to temporarily discharge groundwater to a sanitary, storm or combined sewer. Learn more about the Wastewater Quality Control Application.

• Prepare a site plan: Draw it to scale.

• Get a groundwater report: Test the groundwater you will discharge.

• Fees: These are decided case by case.

• Payment methods:

  • Personal check (payable to the New York City Water Board)
  • Money order (payable to the New York City Water Board)

• Download and print the application: Get the Temporary Discharges of Groundwater into the City Sewer System application.
• Fill out the forms: Follow the instructions in the application. A Professional Engineer (P.E.) must sign the application and apply their seal to it stating the accuracy of the plans.
• Submit the application and documents to the address listed in the Contact Information.
• Wait for a response from DEP: You will hear back within three weeks.
• If approved, you will get a letter allowing groundwater discharge to sewers from DEP.
• After approval: You will receive a letter from DEP asking for a statement from a P.E. estimating the total groundwater volume to be discharged into the sewer during the entire period covered by the approval letter. DEP uses this to calculate charges.
• Mail the P.E.'s statement to the NYC Bureau of Customer Services - Field Operations at 59-17 Junction Blvd., 13th Floor, Flushing, NY 11373.
• DEP will send a fee letter: This letter will tell you how much to pay for the permit.
• Bring the fee letter and a check to any DEP BCS Borough office. You will get the permit on the spot or may need to return the next day.