How to equip New Yorkers to help protect their city from a changing climate?
In New York City, massive storms like Superstorm Sandy and other extreme rainfall events are becoming ever more frequent. Because NYC’s surfaces are primarily impermeable and prevent rainwater from soaking into the ground, heavy rains often result in increased surface runoff, flooding and property damage.
The city also uses combined sewer systems, where stormwater and sewage share the same pipes, which can quickly overflow during heavy rainfall, resulting in impaired water quality, increased risk of waterborne diseases, and damage to aquatic ecosystems.
Empower the city’s private property owners to seize the initiative
Working with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) we partnered on a unique program, Resilient NYC Partners, to help private property owners fund and implement stormwater solutions on their own properties.
Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) techniques had already been effectively deployed across more than 10,000 installations on public property. The task now was to engage with the vast community of private property owners across the five boroughs to strengthen the city’s resilience in the face of storms that don’t differentiate between public and private property.
A more resilient community that’s prepared for the century ahead
To date, 25 projects have been completed or are in development.
The program’s collaborative approach of engaging with private property owners to discuss, help fund and implement sustainable stormwater solutions on their properties has allowed DEP to leverage additional land for stormwater management, thereby expanding the reach of GSI, reducing overall costs and fostering community involvement and support.
This unique partnership has helped to bring stormwater investments to a broad range of properties: universities, cemeteries, hospitals and commercial facilities. It has done so in ways that enhance the value and resilience of these properties while helping meet city-wide water quality goals.
By having Arcadis handle the bulk of project implementation, this partnership represents a crucial step forward in expanding stormwater management solutions to private properties, which contributes to the public good.
Create a better future with us
