February 25, 2020

Additional Sewer Capacity Reduces Flooding while also Improving the Health of the Gowanus Canal; Project Complements Ongoing $53 Million Project to Build High-Level Storm Sewers along 3rd Avenue

A Map of the Project Area and Photos of the Work are Available on DEP’s Flickr Page

New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Vincent Sapienza and New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Lorraine Grillo today announced that work has been completed on a sewer upgrade along 9th Street in the Gowanus and Carroll Gardens neighborhoods of Brooklyn that will improve drainage and reduce flooding. In past years, during heavy rainstorms 9th Street has been prone to flooding, which can impede the safe flow of traffic and impact local businesses. DEP funded the $27 million project while DDC managed the construction, which was originally projected to be completed in summer 2021.

“The new catch basins and storm sewers along 9th Street have already improved drainage and helped to reduce the flooding that in the past has made this important east-west connection impassable during heavy rain storms,” said DEP Commissioner Vincent Sapienza. “This work will also complement the more than $200 million we have already invested to help improve the health of the Gowanus Canal—including the upgrade of the Flushing Tunnel and Pump Station, the construction of curbside rain gardens and the new storm sewers being built along 3rd Avenue.”

“The City has made major investments in this part of Brooklyn that allow DEP and DDC to upgrade the sewer system and help alleviate flooding,” said DDC Commissioner Lorraine Grillo. “Combined with environmental improvements to the Canal plus efforts to reduce stormwater runoff and sewer overflows, these are significant advancements to the local infrastructure of this increasingly popular neighborhood.”

“The early completion of the new storm sewer infrastructure on 9th Street is great news for local residents and businesses,” said Council Member Brad Lander. “These improvements to the storm sewer system, coupled with the recent restoration of the Flushing Tunnel, the new CSO tanks that will be built as a part of the now-underway Superfund cleanup, rain gardens, and new storm-water retention regulations on private development, lay the ground work for a healthier, more sustainable, and more resilient Gowanus for years to come. We look forward to continuing to work with DEP to implement and expand these strategies for water management throughout our neighborhood.”

“I am very pleased that DEP and DDC have completed the sewer upgrades along 9th Street in Gowanus and Carroll Gardens ahead of schedule,” said Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon. “Flooding around the canal has been a major inconvenience to residents for years, and I am glad that the City has taken steps to ensure that new catch basins and storm sewers will help alleviate the pressure flooding puts on the neighborhood. The completion of this project will make our streets safer during storms and play a role in containing the combined sewage overflow to help ensure the Gowanus Canal gets and stays clean.”

“With the reality of climate change and increased precipitation and flooding, we must ensure that we have the proper infrastructure in place to absorb and divert stormwater runoff such as rain gardens, green roofs and robust sewers. I also believe we must explore the possibility of relaunching our “Adopt-a-Catch Basin program.” I thank DEP and DDC for their partnership and for working to protect New Yorkers from extreme weather events,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.

As part of the project, new stormwater and sanitary sewers were installed on 9th Street between 2nd Avenue and the Gowanus Canal, and storm sewers were constructed on 9th Street between Smith Street and the Canal. Additionally, combined sewers were constructed along 2nd Avenue between 7th Street and 9th Street, along with the replacement of an older cast iron water main.

This project complements a $53 million project that is already underway to install nearly three miles of high level storm sewers along 3rd Avenue that will create additional capacity in the neighborhood’s drainage system, helping to reduce street flooding and the amount of pollution that may be discharged into the Gowanus Canal during heavy rainstorms.

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing approximately 1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water each day to more than 9.6 million residents, including 8.6 million in New York City. The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs, and 7,500 miles of sewer lines and 96 pump stations take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants. DEP has a robust capital program, with a planned $20.1 billion in investments over the next 10 years that will create up to 3,000 construction-related jobs per year. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor de Blasio’s long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $14 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to City projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.