Today, the Environmental Tech Lab (ETL), a public-private collaboration between the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Partnership Fund for New York City, published the results from its second annual proof-of-concept program aimed at applying new technology to help solve the biggest challenges facing government agencies. Six companies selected from over 100 applications collaborated with DEP to test their solutions during an eight-week proof-of-concept phase.

The ETL identifies innovative technology solutions from the global tech sector to help address the challenges of managing and maintaining New York City’s water and wastewater network, the nation’s largest, which provides approximately 1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water each day to nearly 10 million residents. The ETL was launched in 2023 as one of the Partnership Fund’s three public-sector innovation labs, a cornerstone of its “technology in the public interest” strategy aimed at helping government agencies deliver services more effectively for the benefit of all New Yorkers who use them. This year, following in depth discussions with 30 senior DEP staff across 12 bureaus/offices, the DEP Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners prioritized two challenges for the 2024 program. The two challenges are:

• Resilience Challenge: How can DEP advance climate resiliency goals including carbon reduction actions, noise/air/water compliance initiatives, flooding mitigations, and water conservation strategies?

• Data Management & Utilization Challenge: How can DEP integrate and analyze disparate data sets to drive business strategies, deliver capital construction projects, optimize critical data models, and better protect people and infrastructure?

This report details how each solution was implemented, early results, and the potential for future impact.

Select Highlights and Outcomes

• DNOTA Air Quality Corp collected hyperlocal air and noise quality data in Queens and the Bronx with a solar-powered air/noise pollution sensor, facilitating accurate environmental insights with minimal technical overhead.

• GenH completed a technical feasibility study that projected that its modular hydropower system could annually generate 3.55 GWh per year and offset 1,630 tons of CO₂ if installed at the East Branch/Sodom Dam Spillway and Croton Falls Diverting Dam Spillway.

• Intelligent Instruments deployed a noise monitoring device in Long Island City and found that it could potentially reduce unnecessary inspections by 70-80%, increasing enforcement efficiency for 311 noise complaints.

• Prezerv conducted a 3D underground scan of the Owl’s Head Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility and delivered a 3D map of 20,000 square feet of underground pipes that could help prevent construction delays.

• Segura Water provided a portable monitoring device that was used for testing twelve water samples from four different pipelines in Queens and City Island in the Bronx, which could reduce the time required for processing water quality samples from six weeks to less than five minutes, on average.

• Gryps used its AI-data management platform to analyze 80,000 DEP capital project files, helping reduce search times and unlock previously unavailable insights.

Maria Gotsch, President & CEO at the Partnership Fund for New York City, said, "This year’s proof-of-concept results demonstrates how cutting-edge technology can help government work smarter and more efficiently. The Environmental Tech Lab creates a bridge between DEP’s operational teams and the entrepreneurs building next-generation solutions, enabling government to test, refine, and adopt solutions that make a real difference. Technology is changing quickly, and this kind of collaboration ensures that we can not only address today’s challenges, but prepare for tomorrow’s.”  

Rohit T. Aggarwala, DEP Commissioner and New York City Chief Climate Officer, said, “Identifying and integrating new technologies is critical to everything we do, but it is especially useful in helping us make New York City more resilient in the face of extreme weather and to maximizing the value of every dollar we spend. Our collaboration with the Partnership Fund for New York City allows us to attract and acquire innovative, new technology and implement it at scale with benefits for all New Yorkers.”

Stacey Matlen, Senior Vice President of Innovation at the Partnership for New York City, said, “The companies in this year’s Lab showcased an exciting variety of ways that technology can help solve complex challenges for a critical part of New York’s infrastructure. We are excited to continue working with DEP to help them prepare for future concerns and further strengthen a system every New Yorker depends upon.”

About the Environmental Tech Lab 

The Environmental Tech Lab (ETL) launched in 2023, in partnership with New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), to apply new technology solutions to address critical challenges posed by climate change and the need to build a sustainable future for our water and wastewater systems. 

The ETL is part of the Partnership Fund for New York City’s “Technology in the Public Interest” strategy which aims to invest in companies and programs that advance the application of new technologies to address urban challenges, including helping government agencies deliver services more effectively. In addition to the ETL, the Partnership Fund operates the Transit Tech Lab (TTL), established in 2018 in partnership with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and expanded in 2019 to include NJ Transit, the NYC Department of Transportation, and the Port Authority of NY and NJ; and the Buildings Tech Lab (BTL), launched in 2024 in collaboration with the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB).

About the NYC Department of Environmental Protection

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing approximately 1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water each day to nearly 10 million residents, including 8.5 million in New York City. The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs, and 7,500 miles of sewer lines and 96 pump stations take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants. DEP also protects the health and safety of New Yorkers by enforcing the Air and Noise Codes and asbestos rules. DEP has a robust capital program, with a planned $37 billion in investments over the next 10 years. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter.

About the Partnership Fund for New York City

The Partnership Fund for New York City is the $130 million investment arm of the Partnership for New York City, dedicated to mobilizing private sector resources and expertise to advance New York City’s standing as a global center of economic opportunity, upward mobility, and innovation. The Fund invests in entrepreneurs and innovators in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors who contribute to building a more vibrant and inclusive New York City economy. As an “evergreen” fund, realized gains are continuously reinvested. A key focus of the Fund is the application of new technology that serves the public interest. 

The Partnership Fund Board is led by co-chairs Tarek Sherif and Neil Blumenthal. Maria Gotsch is the Fund’s President and CEO. More information about the Fund can be found at partnershipfundnyc.org.