Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Barrel Sewers For Queens; An Option For Gowanus?

DEP is installing higher capacity "barrel sewers" in flood-prone areas of Queens.  My initial thought was, are these an option for Gowanus?  We have some flood prone areas with significant sewer overflow issues, especially on the Park Slope side.  But we also have the Public Place site, which at some point is going to be excavated and remediated by National Grid.  DEP should consider whether this is an option for adding capacity both at Public Place and more broadly around the Gowanus Canal.
From DEP's Queens announcement:
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Emily Lloyd and Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Acting Commissioner David Resnick today announced that the City is set to begin a $25 million infrastructure upgrade that will significantly increase sewer capacity and thereby better manage stormwater and reduce flooding in the Elmhurst, Maspeth and Middle Village neighborhoods of Queens. The existing sewers located under Calamus Avenue and 69th Street serve as major conduits in the areas drainage network and both will receive significant capacity upgrades to ensure the proper drainage of stormwater from the streets and to help eliminate sewer backups. While the roadway is opened to add the sewer capacity, the City will also replace the area’s water mains to ensure residents and businesses continue to enjoy a reliable supply of high quality water. In early April, contractors will establish a field office in the community and begin mobilizing for the project. Construction will begin later this spring and the work is expected to be completed by the fall of 2016. The project is being funded by DEP and the construction will be managed by DDC.

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