<P> New York City's water system consists of aqueducts, distribution pipes, reservoirs, and water tunnels that channel drinking water to residents and visitors . A comprehensive raised - relief map of the system is on display at the Queens Museum of Art . Until the early 21st century, some places in southeastern Queens received their water from local wells of the former Jamaica Water Supply Company . </P> <P> The water system has a storage capacity of 550 billion US gallons (2.1 × 10 m) and provides over 1.2 billion US gallons (4,500,000 m) per day of drinking water to more than eight million city residents, another one million users in four upstate counties bordering on the water supply system, and visitors to the region . Three separate sub-systems, each consisting of aqueducts and reservoirs, bring water from Upstate New York to the New York City: </P> <Ul> <Li> The New Croton Aqueduct, completed in 1890, brings water from the New Croton Reservoir in Westchester and Putnam counties . </Li> <Li> The Catskill Aqueduct, completed in 1916, is significantly larger than New Croton and brings water from two reservoirs in the eastern Catskill Mountains . </Li> <Li> The Delaware Aqueduct, completed in 1945, taps tributaries of the Delaware River in the western Catskill Mountains and provides approximately half of New York City's water supply . </Li> </Ul> <Li> The New Croton Aqueduct, completed in 1890, brings water from the New Croton Reservoir in Westchester and Putnam counties . </Li>

Where does new york city's water come from