All topics / Infrastructure and Sustainability / Department of Environmental Protection
Facility security checks
Ensure the sufficiency, quality and security of the City’s drinking water supply. — Assure the integrity of the drinking water supply and distribution systems.
The steady decline in facility security checks tracks a persistent staffing shortage in DEP's police force, which patrols the City's water supply infrastructure. DEP has reported for several years that officer attrition has outpaced hiring (its officers' union contract expired in 2017), and the sharpest recent drop coincides with 31 recruits being in the police academy — and therefore not yet available for patrol duty — pushing the effective vacancy rate to 28% in the first part of FY26.
Researched July 16, 2026 — DEP, Fiscal 2023 Mayor's Management Report, DEP, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, DEP, Preliminary Fiscal 2026 Mayor's Management Report
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above. The dashed marker projects a full-year estimate at the current year-to-date pace.
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| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 304,189 checks | 275,000 checks |
| FY23 | 303,993 checks | 275,000 checks |
| FY24 | 298,123 checks | 285,000 checks |
| FY25 | 289,094 checks | 285,000 checks |
| FY26 (YTD) | 177,749 checks | 285,000 checks |
| FY26 (projected) | ~236,999 checks |
Source: Bureau of Police and Security — via NYC Open Data: Mayor's Management Report, Agency Performance Indicators
Coverage shown: FY22–FY26, reported monthly.
Definition: The number of security checks conducted at DEP facilities by the DEP Police. Examples of facilities that are checked include shaft sites, lab buildings, offices and aqueducts.