Int. No. 2168-A

By Council Members Brannan, Koslowitz, Gennaro, D. Diaz, Rose and Levin

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to creating a water account database

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Subchapter 4 of chapter 3 of title 24 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding new sections 24-368 and 24-369 to read as follows:

§ 24-368 Database of water accounts. a. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of chapter 5 of title 23, the commissioner of environmental protection shall create and maintain a searchable online database through which members of the public who register and pay a periodic subscription fee, as established by the department, may access information about a water account in any commercial, residential and industrial property, however such database shall be subject to the exceptions provided in subdivision b. Such database shall be available on or through the city’s website, in a non-proprietary format that permits automated processing, have the ability to produce reports by query, be accessible through an application programming interface and include all non-confidential information maintained in connection with such water account, including, but not necessarily limited to, the following:

1. Water meter number, as designated by the 8-digit serial number on such meter;

2. Date and copy of the bill of every bill issued for such water account, including metered billing and flat rate accounts and accounts billed attributed consumption charges, to the extent such bill is available to the customer for such water account on the portal provided to such customer;

3. Reading of such water meter, as recorded by the department, to the extent such reading is available to the department;

4. Total amount of water used pursuant to the reading described in paragraph 3 of this subdivision;

5. Current account balance for such water account, including open late payment charges;

6. Payment history dating back at least 5 years;

7. Date such water meter was installed and date such water meter was sealed, to the extent such dates are available;

8. Size of such water meter, in cubic feet;

9. Cumulative denial-of-access fees; and

10. Cumulative theft-of-service fees.

b. Such database shall not provide access to properties in tax class one with three or fewer dwelling units, to any person other than the owner of such property, a party or entity authorized by the property owner, a party appearing on the deed of such property, or any lender with an unpaid mortgage encumbering the property, provided that such property owners shall not be required to pay to register to access information in such database concerning said properties.

c. The database shall maintain the information required by subdivision a for any water meter that has been replaced.

d. The database shall include the information required by subdivision a starting from January 1, 1996 or the date the water meter was installed, whichever is later.

§ 24-369 Notice to certain property owners. Notice shall be provided once every three months to an owner of a one, two or three family residential real property in class one with outstanding water and sewer charges.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law, except that the commissioner of environmental protection may take such measures as are necessary for the implementation of this local law, including the promulgation of rules, before such date.

JSA/SS

LS #12969

11/01/2021 9:24 PM