Q&A
Historical context of drought management in NYC
1:29:57
·
135 sec
Paul Rush, Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Water Supply, provides historical context for drought management in New York City, focusing on past drought emergencies and rate increases.
- A rate increase was implemented during the 1989 drought emergency
- The 1980s saw frequent droughts, with severe ones in 1985 and 1989
- Rate increases were considered but not implemented during the most recent drought
- The discussion includes a memorable anecdote about Mayor Koch's public response to the 1980s drought
Paul Rush
1:29:57
I mean, there was a rate increase in 1989 in that drought emergency that was in the eighties, back when we had droughts fairly frequent.
1:30:05
The drought of 'eighty five and 'eighty nine were particularly severe.
1:30:09
It was looked at, considered in the last route, but that did not happen in the last in the last route.
1:30:17
But there is the ability to do that.
Jim Gennaro
1:30:23
That is good to know.
1:30:24
I I I remember doing, the drought during the eighties.
1:30:30
Probably none of you were in government at the time, but I was.
1:30:32
And, Mayor Koch went up to whether it was a shokan or wherever it was.
1:30:38
Was that where it was?
1:30:39
It it it was a shokan where he had that Yeah.
1:30:42
Right.
1:30:43
And his hands were up and it was like a a picture of him, like, you know, you know, summoning the rain.
1:30:49
He was standing in what was presumably, like the dry bottom of the now near empty reservoir.
1:30:59
And so, were you in government at the time when that happened, or you just remember it?
1:31:04
I
Paul Rush
1:31:05
I was in West Point when that happened, in 'eighty five.
1:31:07
In 'eighty nine, I was overseas.
1:31:09
But I remember it.
1:31:10
I grew up in the Catskills, I remember seeing the photo.
1:31:13
Yes.
1:31:14
But I wasn't working for the city.
1:31:15
I've only been to the city since 'ninety two.
Jim Gennaro
1:31:18
Oh, okay.
1:31:20
And and, yeah, many people well, at least I know that you went to, Westport, and I I thank you for your service and, the code that you carry to this day.
1:31:32
And so oh, Now, were it to be the case that water water rates were increased if it were a situation where water rates were increased because of an emergency, would the rate be permanent, or would it increment down once the, once the drought was over?
1:32:09
How does that how does that work?
1:32:11
Or is that up to the Water Board?
