NYC Council Introduction 730

intro.nyc/0730-2026 2026-2029 Legislative Session Mayor's Desk for Signature
Requiring water quality testing and the posting of water quality testing results online.
Sponsored by James F. Gennaro
Introduced: March 10, 2026

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.

Approved by Committee April 15, 2026

Committee on Environmental Protection and Waterfronts Votes 5:0:0
James F. Gennaro (Affirmative)
Harvey D. Epstein (Affirmative)
Kamillah Hanks (Affirmative)
Lincoln Restler (Affirmative)
Justin E. Sanchez (Affirmative)

Approved by Council April 16, 2026

Votes 49:0:0
Julie Menin (Affirmative)
Shaun Abreu (Affirmative)
Shirley Aldebol (Affirmative)
Joann Ariola (Affirmative)
Alexa Avilés (Affirmative)
Chris Banks (Affirmative)
Gale A. Brewer (Affirmative)
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (Affirmative)
Tiffany L. Cabán (Affirmative)
David M. Carr (Affirmative)
Carmen N. De La Rosa (Affirmative)
Eric Dinowitz (Affirmative)
Elsie Encarnación (Affirmative)
Harvey D. Epstein (Affirmative)
Amanda C. Farías (Affirmative)
Simcha Felder (Affirmative)
Oswald J. Feliz (Affirmative)
James F. Gennaro (Affirmative)
Jennifer Gutiérrez (Affirmative)
Shahana K. Hanif (Affirmative)
Ty Hankerson (Affirmative)
Kamillah Hanks (Affirmative)
Crystal Hudson (Affirmative)
Rita C. Joseph (Affirmative)
Shekar Krishnan (Affirmative)
Linda Lee (Affirmative)
Farah N. Louis (Affirmative)
Virginia Maloney (Affirmative)
Christopher Marte (Affirmative)
Darlene Mealy (Affirmative)
Frank Morano (Affirmative)
Mercedes Narcisse (Affirmative)
Sandy Nurse (Affirmative)
Chi A. Ossé (Absent)
Vickie Paladino (Affirmative)
Lincoln Restler (Affirmative)
Kevin C. Riley (Affirmative)
Yusef Salaam (Affirmative)
Pierina Ana Sanchez (Affirmative)
Justin E. Sanchez (Affirmative)
Kayla Santosuosso (Affirmative)
Lynn C. Schulman (Affirmative)
Althea V. Stevens (Affirmative)
Shanel Thomas-Henry (Affirmative)
Sandra Ung (Affirmative)
Inna Vernikov (Affirmative)
Nantasha M. Williams (Affirmative)
Julie Won (Affirmative)
Phil Wong (Affirmative)
Susan Zhuang (Affirmative)