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DEP urges winter preparedness, flags AMR meter upgrades and sewer-clog costs
Summary
Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Alfonso Lopez told the Queens Borough cabinet to insulate meters and pipes ahead of winter, flagged a citywide AMR replacement program (600,000+ devices, targeting completion by 2027) and warned DEP spends about $18 million annually clearing sewer blockages caused by wipes and grease.
Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Alfonso Lopez briefed the Queens Borough cabinet on winter preparedness and utilities resilience, urging homeowners and businesses to take simple steps to prevent service disruptions and costly repairs.
"Protect your pipes, your homes, your meters from freezing," Lopez said, recommending insulation of meters and pipes, turning off outdoor faucets, removing hoses and having someone run a faucet periodically if a home will be unoccupied during cold weather.
Lopez described an AMR…
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