The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) recently announced that the construction of a new storm sewer project in the neighborhood of Gowanus has been completed.
As part of the newly-finished $54 million project (which was funded by DEP and constructed by DDC), more than a mile of new storm sewers were installed along Third Avenue in Gowanus, between Carroll and State streets.
In addition to the storm sewers, nine storm chambers and 74 catch basins were constructed for the purpose of draining precipitation from the roads, in an effort to decrease the amount of flooding and wastewater in the area.
“This $54 million project is another major investment in Brooklyn which will improve harbor water quality while also helping to reduce the effects of intense rainfalls that can cause local flooding,” said DDC Commissioner Thomas Foley. “Gowanus is a vulnerable area and we’re proud to help improve the situation for residents.”
According to a release, the new drainage system has already made an immediate impact on the neighborhood, reducing roadway flooding and the amount of pollution that would have made its way into the Gowanus Canal during recent heavy rainstorms.
“These drainage improvements proved their worth most recently during the 4th of July rainstorms, as DEP received no reports of sewer backups or street flooding along 3rd Avenue,” said DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “DEP continues to explore stormwater management solutions for other corridors in Gowanus that experience regular flooding.”
Construction of the project was completed over the course of two phases, with its first phase beginning back in March 2016, and Phase 2 commencing in October 2018 and ultimately finishing up this month.
The storm sewer installation is the latest in a series of projects that DEP has conducted with the aim of improving the water quality of the Gowanus Canal.
Past projects include a $177 million rehabilitation and upgrade of the Gowanus Canal Flushing Tunnel, as well as construction of a green infrastructure throughout the Gowanus Canal drainage area. Additionally, back in March of this year, the department broke ground on a $1.6 billion sewer overflow retention tank project that will help to protect the ongoing Superfund Cleanup of the Canal.
