New York Makes Sewer, Water Improvements

On June 20, New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Acting Commissioner Vincent Sapienza and Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Feniosky Peña-Mora announced the completion of a new Bluebelt in the South Shore’s Pleasant Plains neighborhood.

Prior to construction, very few streets in the area were equipped with catch basins or storm sewers and roadway flooding often occurred during heavy rainstorms. The $15 million infrastructure upgrade included the construction of new storm sewers, catch basins and water mains, as well as the enhancement of existing waterways on property owned by both the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The newly installed catch basins allow precipitation to drain from the roadways into the new storm sewers, which then direct it to the newly enhanced waterways, or Bluebelt wetlands, where it will be naturally filtered to protect the environment. In addition, nearly a mile of new sanitary sewers allowed nearly 100 homes to connect to the city sewer system and discontinue the use of septic tanks. The project, which began in 2014, was funded by DEP and the construction was managed by DDC.

“The Bluebelt system on Staten Island has proven to effectively manage stormwater, reduce localized flooding and raise nearby property values,” said DEP Acting Commissioner Vincent Sapienza. “We thank our partner agencies for helping to ensure we preserved the natural beauty of the area while also improving roadway drainage and extending the sewer system to nearly 100 homes in the area, which allows them to discontinue the use of septic tanks.”

The installation of 2,350 linear feet of new storm sewers and 19 catch basins will help to better manage the precipitation that falls in the area and reduce localized flooding. In addition, 4,116 linear feet of new sanitary sewers allowed 86 homes to connect to the City’s sewer system and discontinue the use of septic tanks.

While the roadway was opened to add the new sewers, the city also upgraded the drinking water delivery system by replacing the old cast iron water mains with new ductile iron mains. As part of the project, 5,052 linear feet of distribution water mains were installed. Upgrading the water main network will help to ensure a reliable supply of high quality drinking water for area residents for decades to come.

 

 

 

 

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