“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

Green Infrastructure (GI) is a multifunctional, meaning that it can improve the quality of life in many different ways, including “environmental, social and economic”.  Essentially, GI can me incorporated in many areas such as “natural and semi-natural areas in urban, rural and marine areas, as well as man-made elements, such as green roofs and ecoducts over motorways, and restored lands, such as wetlands and mangroves”. (EUROPE GI PDF) The diversity in the number of locations that GI can be done leads to a variety of functions that GI provides. The main roles that GI provides is:

1) Protecting ecosystems state and biodiversity

2) Improving ecosystem functioning and promoting ecosystem services

3) promoting social wellbeing and health

4) supporting the development of a green economy, and sustainable land and water management (EUROPE GI PDF)

It is important to note that these functions inter lap and are co-dependent because there could be a situation where you had a flood. You cannot say that only one of the listed functions would be provided if green infrastructure happens. Instead, if a flood occurred not only would GI protect biodiversity but it would also promote ecosystem services because in order to protect the diversity you need people to help with maintaining the GI. The reason as to why the 3^rd reason “promoting social well-being and health” is listed is because GI is a beneficial outcome to not just the environment but to us as well. (EUROPE GI PDF)

“The benefits of green infrastructure are numerous. From the broadest environment benefits to site-specific ones, green infrastructure is an effective and cost-efficient tool for absorbing and sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide (C02); filtering air and water pollutants; stabilizing soil to prevent or reduce erosion; providing wildlife habitat; decreasing solar heat gain; lowering the public cost of stormwater management infrastructure and providing flood control; and reducing energy usage through passive heating and cooling.”(ASLA.COM)

These benefits are acknowledged because in “September 2010, New York City released the NYC Green Infrastructure Plan which presents an alternative approach to improving water quality that integrates “green infrastructure,” such as rain gardens and green roofs, with investments to optimize the existing system and to build targeted, cost-effective “grey” or traditional infrastructure.” (NYC PROGRAM) Overall we need GI because it would provide so many benefits for the environment and human beings.

 

 

SOURCES:

 

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/ecosystems/docs/Green_Infrastructure.pdf

 

“NYC Green Infrastructure Program.” NYC Green Infrastructure Program. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2016.

(http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/stormwater/nyc_green_infrastructure_plan.shtml)

 

Professional Practice. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2016, from https://www.asla.org/ContentDetail.aspx?id=43532