NYC To Install 7 Miles Of A Special Kind Of Pavement To Combat Flooding
We’ve seen time and time again heavy rain to bring substantial flooding to NYC–these photos and videos blew our minds back in September of last year–and NYC officials have just unveiled their plan to combat flooding: porous pavement.
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Department of Design and Construction (DDC) have announced that “work is underway to install seven miles of porous pavement along area roadways to help better manage stormwater and reduce flooding and sewer overflows,” according to a press release.
Unlike traditional asphalt, porous pavement allows stormwater to pass through and be absorbed naturally into the ground. This means that stormwater drains that lead into the sewer system aren’t as necessary, which in turn will help prevent flooding, sewer backups into homes and businesses, and overflows into waterways.
The porous pavement, which can withstand the weight of motor vehicles, will be installed along street curb lines where stormwater typically drains. It can prevent millions of gallons of stormwater from overwhelming the sewer system annually.
And though several different types of porous pavement have been tested throughout the years around NYC, this will be the first large-scale implementation. Plus, NYC Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Thomas Foley stated that the pavements are “only one way DDC is implementing green infrastructure across the city to combat the effects of climate change and reduce flooding in our communities.”
NYC Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala stated:
Climate change is bringing with it rainstorms that can overwhelm our sewers and cause flooding across the five boroughs, which is why we are investing in tools that will divert rainwater away from the sewer system, such as porous pavement. Brooklyn got hit particularly hard by Tropical Storm Ophelia last September and this new porous pavement will help to ease pressure on the sewer system and protect residents during future storms.
The porous pavement is currently being installed in South Brooklyn with construction anticipated to be completed in the fall of 2025.
Contracts are expected to get under way later this year to bring porous pavement to other Brooklyn neighborhoods, as well as to communities in the Bronx. Additional contracts are currently in planning for neighborhoods in Queens.
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