SidewalkSnitch · NYC Vibe Check
NYC Vibe Check: water leaks jumped 30%, then leveled off
Last updated: 2026-10-20
Update, Oct 20, 2026: water leak complaints leveled off
- Oct 12–18: 1,166 water leak complaints. Oct 5–11: 1,123. Change: +43 (+3.8%). Water Leak is no longer the top riser in 311. Heat is. (Oct 12–18 · Oct 5–11)
- The rain-day spike (244 on Oct 11) is now in the earlier week. After that, daily counts went down: 210, 191, 194, 197, 150, 100 and 124 on Oct 18. (311 daily)
- Slow leak 490 vs 441 · Heavy flow 489 vs 487 · Damp spot 187 vs 195. (Oct 12–18 · Oct 5–11)
| Borough | Oct 12–18 | Oct 5–11 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronx | 396 | 318 | +78 (+24.5%) |
| Brooklyn | 391 | 454 | −63 (−13.9%) |
| Manhattan | 232 | 209 | +23 (+11.0%) |
| Queens | 132 | 130 | +2 (+1.5%) |
| Staten Island | 15 | 12 | +3 |
| Citywide | 1,166 | 1,123 | +43 (+3.8%) |
Still leaking? Tell your landlord first, then file. Start a report · 311: Water Leak in a Building NYC Open Data, erm2-nwe9, pulled Oct 20, 2026; complete through Oct 18.
Water coming through your ceiling?
Snap a photo of the leak and the room. We prepare the text. You file it on 311.
Start a report →Week of Oct 11–17, 2026. New Yorkers filed 1,285 "Water Leak" complaints to 311. The week before (Oct 4–10) they filed 986. That is 299 more (+30.3%). It is the largest rise of any 311 complaint type this week. HPD handles all of them. Source: 311, by borough, Oct 11–17 · Oct 4–10 · agency
Water coming through your ceiling? Snap a photo of the leak and the room. Start a report. We prepare the text. You file it on 311.
What is up
- On Sunday, Oct 11, the remnants of Isaias brought heavy rain. Central Park got 1.84 in that day. (NWS climate report CF6, Central Park, Oct 2026 — preliminary)
- That same day, 311 got 244 water leak complaints. That is the highest day from Oct 1 to Oct 17. The next four days stayed high (209, 191, 194, 197). (311 daily counts)
- Heavy flow: 549 vs 413 (+136, +32.9%).
- Slow leak: 549 vs 382 (+167, +43.7%).
- Damp spot: 187 vs 191 (−4, −2.1%). Source: 311 descriptors, Oct 11–17 · Oct 4–10
- All 311 complaints fell 4.8% in the same week (72,782 vs 76,417). (Oct 11–17 · Oct 4–10)
- The rain and the rise happened in the same week. The data does not prove that the rain caused the leaks.
By borough (311, Water Leak)
| Borough | Oct 11–17 | Oct 4–10 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn | 475 | 376 | +99 (+26.3%) |
| Bronx | 406 | 292 | +114 (+39.0%) |
| Manhattan | 246 | 190 | +56 (+29.5%) |
| Queens | 142 | 119 | +23 (+19.3%) |
| Staten Island | 16 | 9 | +7 (+77.8%) |
| Citywide | 1,285 | 986 | +299 (+30.3%) |
NYC Open Data, 311 Service Requests (erm2-nwe9), by created_date, pulled Oct 19, 2026. Data is complete through Oct 17. Staten Island counts are small.
Which report to use
| You see | Report | What happens next |
|---|---|---|
| A damp spot, slow leak or heavy leak in your apartment or a public area of your building | 311: Water Leak in a Building | HPD tries to reach your landlord, then calls you back. If it is not fixed, a uniformed inspector comes. You must give contact info. |
| A leak in a NYCHA apartment or building | NYCHA Public Housing Maintenance Complaint (linked on the 311 leak page) | NYCHA handles it, not HPD. |
| Sewage or flood water coming into a building after a storm (owners) | 311: Sewer Backup | DEP gets it. |
| Water leaking on the street or sidewalk | "Water Leak on Street or Sidewalk" (linked on the 311 leak page) | — |
| Immediate danger | Call 911 | (311) |
How to report it on SidewalkSnitch
- First tell your landlord, managing agent or super. 311 asks you to try this first. (311)
- Take photos of the leak, the ceiling or wall, and any damage. Note the date and time.
- Start a report. We draft the text.
- Tap Copy, then Open 311. Paste and submit on the city site. We prepare the text. You file it on 311. Nothing goes to 311 unless you send it. You can also call 311.
FAQ
Do I have to call my landlord first? 311 says you should try to fix the issue with your landlord, managing agent or super before you file. Co-op and condo owners should go to their board or management first. (311)
Can I file without my name? No. 311 says you must give your contact information for a water leak complaint. (311)
What happens after I file? HPD tries to contact the building's managing agent. HPD also tries to call you back. If you say the leak is fixed, HPD closes the complaint. If it is not fixed, or HPD cannot reach you, a uniformed Code Enforcement inspector comes. The owner is not told the inspection date. (311)
Will the inspector check other things? Yes. The inspector also checks smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, mold, pests, window guards (if a child under 11 lives there) and more. (311)
My landlord still did not fix it. What now? You can take legal action in Housing Court. Keep a record of all contact with your landlord and HPD. (311)
Rain came into my basement. Is that a "Water Leak"? For owners, the 311 Water Leak report covers water from an outside source other than storm-related rainfall. For sewage or flooding in a building after a storm, use Sewer Backup. (311)
Also on the move this week
- Heat/Hot Water: 3,860 vs 3,596 (+264, +7.3%). Oct 17 alone had 1,838 complaints, on the coldest night of the month so far (43°F low at Central Park). (311 daily; NWS CF6) See Heat Check.
- Sewer Maintenance: 618 vs 480 (+138, +28.7%). Clogged catch basins: 187 vs 111. (311 descriptors · prior)
- For Hire Vehicle Complaint: 404 vs 288 (+116, +40.3%). (311 by type · prior)
Related
- HPD housing rules
- Mold in apartments
- Plumbing work rules
- No heat? Check your apartment
- NYC sewer rules
See it. Snap it. Fix it.
Water coming through your ceiling?
Snap a photo of the leak and the room. We prepare the text. You file it on 311.
Start a report →