Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
New York Wants To Make Its Waters Less Poopy
By
Garth Johnston
Published Oct 20, 2011
Modified Oct 20, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Garth Johnston
Published Oct 20, 2011
Modified Oct 20, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Every time there is heavy rainfall here in the city it comes rushing into our sewers in such volumes that our wastewater treatment plants just can't take it, so they let a whole lotta sewage into our waterways—something we were all reminded of when the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant in Harlem caught on fire this summer. But it doesn't have to be that way, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection have come to an interesting agreement to try and slow the brown tide.
If the agreement, the public comment period for which begins now, is accepted it will mean the construction of an estimated $2.4 billion in green infrastructure being built around the city in the next 20 years. The main goal of the agreement is to catch rainwater before it goes into the sewer system. Think: green roofs with plantings to catch water, porous pavement for parking lots and things like that. The city plans to spend $1.5 billion of its own cash (over the next 20 years) on the project with an additional $900 million coming from private investments (i.e. new developments will have limits on the amount of runoff they can produce).
The city estimates that all together the proposals could reduce the amount of sewage going into the harbor by 40 percent by 2030. Up to 30 billion gallons of overflow enters New York Harbor, Jamaica Bay, Newtown Creek and other waterways each year.
Tagged
nycdep
nysdec
raw sewage
sewage
Garth Johnston
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Early Addition: New Jersey considering a ban on chewing gum because of microplastics
Because New Jersey is just trying to keep its people safe, here are your early links: Early voters get a spooky sticker, Tom Hanks returning to Broadway, a time capsule letter to the NYC mayor in 2026 and more.
By
James Ramsay
Published Oct 23, 2026 at 8:48 a.m. ET
Queens mother charged with murdering her son after failed suicide attempt, NYPD says
Sukken Wong, 62, allegedly stabbed her nonverbal son, Byran Wong, 25, to death.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
News
Queens mother charged with murdering her son after failed suicide attempt, NYPD says
Sukken Wong, 62, allegedly stabbed her nonverbal son, Byran Wong, 25, to death.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Your guide to voting in New York's 2026 elections for governor and Congress
By
Walter Wuthmann
,
Jon Campbell
and
Brigid Bergin
Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors
By
Ryan Kost
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
By
Elizabeth Kim
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .