“Stormwater runoff is generated from rain and snowmelt events that flow over land or impervious surfaces, such as paved streets, parking lots, and building rooftops, and does not soak into the ground. The runoff picks up pollutants like trash, chemicals, oils, and dirt/sediment that can harm our rivers, streams, lakes, and coastal waters.” (EPA) Given the basic definition of stormwater runoff, a lot of urban sustainable projects can be set up that could better our environment. For example, on January 14, 2015, according to the information presented by the Borough President’s office, a project by the name of “Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway Stormwater Management Plan”, which will prevent half a billion gallons of stormwater from entering Brooklyn sewers. Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams said that “When it comes to our overflow problem with our sewers, which are leading to damaging coastal floods and the release of raw sewage into our marine ecosystem, major changes are needed to protect residents, business and wildlife alike. The Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway Stormwater Management Plan, for which this office has sponsored funding over the last 10 years, is a blueprint to a greener and cleaner future in our borough.” The plan would recommend a water-shed approach that would “capture and retain at least the first inch of rain that falls on the greenway, the adjoining public right of way and impervious surfaces for one block upslope of the greenway.” According to the article, In a combined sewer system, stormwater and sanitary sewage from toilets and other waste sources enter the same pipes on the way to the city’s water treatment plants. During significant rainfall, the volume of water and sewage exceeds the pipe’s capacity, and the excess is released into surface water bodies such as the East River, Gowanus Canal, New York Harbor and Newtown Creek. In addition to preventing combined sewer overflow events, the plan suggests how the greenway can be built as part of an integrated flood protection system for areas such as Red Hook and the industrial part of Sunset Park, which experienced major losses from flooding as a result of Superstorm Sandy, as stated by the article.  The Brooklyn Green Initiative (BGI) will initiate the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway, a 14 mile project, will compromise 23 individual capital projects and estimate in cost of about 100 million dollars.  Since the Greenway will be 14 miles of street, it is wise to implement the stormwater project along with it. The article concludes by saying that The high level sewer will capture stormwater from West Street and the side streets between West Street and Franklin Street and release it directly to the East River. This project will keep 4.5 million gallons of water out of the combined sewer system.

http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2015/1/14/brooklyn-stormwater-management-plan-could-reduce-combined-sewer-overflows