Environmentalist confronts water resilience in the face of increased rainfall

New York City is looking to upgrade its stormwater management system, aiming to address the city's inadequate stormwater capacity that has become increasingly evident in the face of more frequent extreme rain events.

The proposed Stormwater 2.0 initiative is spearheaded by James Gennaro, a Queens lawmaker who has been focusing on the city's environment, water, and flood prevention for over three decades. Gennaro currently chairs the Environmental Protection, Resiliency and Waterfronts Committee in the City Council.

While the city has undertaken certain projects related to storm surge, these are limited in scope and protection. The current stormwater system, designed to handle a 5-year storm, can no longer cope with the rainfall from such a storm. In parts of the city, the stormwater capacity is zero due to the lack of storm sewers and catch basins, particularly in parts of southeast Queens.

To combat this issue, a storm surge barrier could be built across New York Harbor from New York City to New Jersey. This potential infrastructure would provide enhanced protection against extreme rain events.

The City of New York is working on projects related to storm surge issues, primarily under the Harbor and Tributaries Study (HAT). However, the HAT study does not fully provide for the implementation of storm surge barriers across New York Harbor. Collaboration between the necessary entities, including the federal government, New York state, and New Jersey, is currently a challenge.

Efforts to address storm surge issues like those experienced by New York City during Superstorm Sandy include extensive investments in coastal defenses such as sea walls, surge barriers, and flood-resistant infrastructure. It is expected that these entities will collaborate to build the necessary infrastructure to protect against future storm surges.

However, it seems that another storm surge and subsequent billions of dollars in losses may be required to prompt serious action towards storm surge protection. The city, despite various studies conducted, is currently not fully protected against a storm surge. The current storm sewer system processes storm water at a rate of about 1.75 inches per hour in most of the city, with parts handling less, such as 1.5 inches and others as low as 1 inch per hour.

In conclusion, the proposed Stormwater 2.0 initiative aims to address New York City's inadequate stormwater capacity, which has become a pressing concern in the face of more frequent extreme rain events. The collaboration of various entities, including the federal government, New York state, and New Jersey, will be crucial in the successful implementation of storm surge barriers and other protective infrastructure.