NARROWSBURG — The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) will host a presentation titled “Delaware Aqueduct Repair Update” by Jennifer Garigliano, director of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Bureau of Water Supply, Water Resources Management, on Thursday, May 2, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Upper Delaware Council office, 211 Bridge St., Narrowsburg, NY. 

There will also be a Zoom option offered for virtual participation upon request.

In June 2024, NYC DEP anticipates entering the last phase of a $1 billion project that has been in the works for 20 years to repair the longest tunnel in the world – the Delaware Aqueduct.

They will connect a newly constructed 2.5-mile bypass tunnel to structurally sound portions of the Aqueduct, permanently conveying water around a leak that releases a reported 35 million gallons per day. 

Making the connection will require shutting down the Delaware system for eight months, currently planned to start in October 2024. Unforeseen complications such as an unusually dry, hot summer and computer modeling that predicts reservoir refill probabilities will drive all “go-no-go” decisions leading into and throughout the shutdown.

Originally slated to begin in October 2022, the project has been delayed twice. A March 2023 dewatering exercise that revealed more extensive and faster infiltration of groundwater than expected when the tunnel was not at full capacity prompted extra time to install additional pumping equipment to ensure the safety of workers who will be 700 feet underground.

Prior to the shutdown, all four Delaware system reservoirs – Cannonsville, Pepacton, Neversink and Rondout – will be drawn down more than usual, depending on the amount of precipitation, to create substantial voids that will help to reduce storm impacts in the region. The shutdown should not impact public recreational uses, according to the NYC DEP.

Following the presentation, the UDC’s monthly business meeting will include status reports from the Delaware River Basin Commission, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, National Park Service, and the UDC Executive Director; discussion of old and new business; and public comment.

All UDC meetings are open to the public.

To request the Zoom link, please contact UDC Administrative Support Stephanie Driscoll at (845) 252-3022 orstephanie@upperdelawarecouncil.org.

Please check www.upperdelawarecouncil.org or UDC social media pages for any meeting updates.