Wastewater Quality Control Application
If your building project needs to temporarily discharge groundwater to a sanitary or combined sewer as a result of a construction project lowering the groundwater table, regardless of the size of the construction project, you must follow the Sewer Use Rules in Title 15 of the Rules of the City of New York (RCNY) Chapter 19.
If you expect to release 10,000 gallons or less of groundwater per day, you need a groundwater discharge permit. This permit comes from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). It lets you release groundwater into the City sewer system (sanitary and combined sewers) for a limited time. To get this permit, you first need to submit a Wastewater Quality Control Application to DEP.
- Write a cover letter: Describe the project.
- Create a site plan: Make sure it is to scale.
- Prepare an analytical report: Test the groundwater to be discharged.
- For more details: See the Groundwater Discharge to Sanitary or Combined Sewer Instructions.
- Get a licensed engineer's statement: Estimate the total volume to be discharged into the sewer during the entire period covered by the approval letter. Submit this only after getting the approval letter from DEP.
- Fees: Determined case-by-case.
Mail the Licensed Engineer’s statement to:
NYC DEP – Bureau of Customer Services
Field Operations
59-17 Junction Blvd., 13th Floor
Flushing, NY 11373
- Download and print the Wastewater Quality Control Application:
- Fill out the form: A professional engineer (P.E.) or a registered architect (R.A.) must state the accuracy of the plans, sign the application and place their seal on it.
- Submit the application: Include all the prerequisites.
- Receive a response from DEP within three weeks.
- If the application is satisfactory, you will get an approval letter for Groundwater Discharge to Sanitary or Combined Sewer from DEP.
- After the approval letter: DEP will send a letter asking for a statement from a P.E. or R.A. estimating the total volume to be discharged into the sewer during the entire period covered by the approval letter. This helps DEP calculate sewer charges.
- Mail the licensed engineer's statement.
- Receive a letter from DEP: It will show the amount to be paid for the permit.
- Bring the letter and a check: Pay the amount to the NYC Water Board at any DEP BCS borough office. You will get the permit on the spot or may need to come back the next day.