The city has sought to restrict dev

The city has sought to restrict development throughout its watershed. One of its largest watershed protection programs is the Land Acquisition Program, under which the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has purchased or protected through conservation easement over 70,000 acres (28,000 ha) since 1997.

Responsibility for the city water supply is shared between three institutions: The DEP operates and maintains the system and is responsible for investment planning; the Municipal Water Finance Authority raises debt in the market to finance the system; and the Water Board sets rates and collects user payments.