Water Tank Inspection Reporting

Water tanks help deliver drinking water to millions of New York City residents. In buildings with more than six floors, pumps push water to rooftop tanks where the water is stored until needed. When a faucet is opened, water exits the tank and gravity carries the water to the floors below to be used.

Building Owners

Owners of buildings in New York City that use tanks to store or pressurize the building’s drinking water must have the tanks inspected at least once each calendar year, and must submit the results of those inspections to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene by January 15 of the next calendar year. Inspection reports may be submitted online or by mail. If submitted by mail, the reports must be on the official form (provided below).

Report Water Tank Inspection Results - online

• Building representatives who will report inspection results online must register to begin the reporting process.
• After you click on the link in the next bullet, scroll down to “Water Tank Inspection Reporting,” check the selection box and hit Continue.
• Ready to register and report inspection results?

Report Water Tank Inspection Results – By Mail

• Download or view one of the following fillable forms:
  • Drinking Water Storage Tank Inspection Reporting Form (PDF) – single tank
  • Multiple Drinking Water Storage Tanks Inspection Reporting Form (PDF) – multiple tanks
• Forms must be completed/filled in electronically. Handwritten completed forms are not accepted.
• Mail completed paper inspection reporting forms to:

  NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  Office of Public Health Engineering
  Water Tank Inspection Reporting
  42-09 28th Street, 14th Floor
  Long Island City, NY 11101-4132

Resources for Building Owners

• Official Notice: New Requirements for Buildings with Drinking Water Tanks (PDF)
  Other languages: [En Español] [中文] [정의 ] [Русский]
• Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) about Water Tank Inspection Reporting
  Other languages: [En Español] [中文] [정의 ] [Русский]
• Sample Notification Sign that must be posted in buildings viewable to residents.

Building Residents

Building owners must make residents aware of their rights to review the inspection results. Look for notification signs in your building that provide information on who to contact. Building owners must keep inspection results and water quality test results for at least five years.

Look Up Water Tank Inspection Results for A Building

The public can view water tank inspection results for a building. To do this, users must have the Building Identification Number (BIN). A BIN is a unique 7-digit identification number assigned to a specific building by the NYC Department of City Planning.

You can obtain a BIN for a specific street address at the Department of Buildings Building Information System (DOB BIS) or the Department of Planning Geographic Online Address Translator (GOAT). Once you have the BIN, you may look up the water inspection results for a building.

For more information, call 311.