If you ask a New Yorker about their drinking water, they’ll say the city’s water tastes the best. While the path that water takes from its original sources to the taps of New York is complex, it’s true that New York water is something special. Here’s how we know.
- Streams of the Great Swamp provide headwaters for the Swamp River, which flows north and east, and the East Branch of the Croton River, which flows south. The south flow provides approximately 20% of the water to the DEP-designated “Croton Reservoir System” and provides drinking water for millions.
- The Great Swamp naturally provides water filtration. In the wide basin or floodplain, the water slows down and pollutants settle out. Some pollutants are absorbed by wetland plants.
- The Great Swamp recharges the aquifer, allowing the flow of water to slow down and seep into the water table, refreshing it. The aquifer supplies water to 40,000+ residents of the watershed.
- The floodplain of the Great Swamp holds millions of gallons of water and keeps it from rushing through communities during storms.
The next time you take a drink of New York water, savor the sweetness and take a moment to honor the wonders of the Great Swamp that make our delicious, life-giving water possible!
