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August 13, 2007
Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs): Look who just caught on
The big story last week was the flooding of the NYC subway system, which highlighted NYC's problem with Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs).
"Downstream" critics of Atlantic Yards, primarily in the Gowanus Canal area, have been trying to get the story out to the press and politicians that the already-taxed system will hardly be able to accommodate new residential contruction underway, much less 18,000 new residents at Atlantic Yards. Bruce Ratner's plan is to hold Atlantic Yards storm-water runoff in on-site tanks to be drained when the system can handle the excess water, but that only addresses Atlantic Yards' water runoff, not the higher sewage concentration that will inevitably back up into downstream homes and be released into the Gowanus Canal.
Local media highlight the problem with CSOs:
The NY Times, When It Rains, Sewage Often Pours Into Harbor
Gothamist, The Depressing Truth About NYC's Sewers
WNYC, Flooded Subways Reveal Sewer "Crisis"
Jarrett Murphy, the Investigations Editor for City Limits Magazine, who co-authored a report on what he calls the city's silent sewage crisis, speaks with WNYC’s All Things Considered host Amy Eddings.
Last week, an NYU online publication reported on how Atlantic Yards may push the local sewer system over the edge: Scienceline, Too Big for Its Britches.
Sewage runoff into the Gowanus is only part of the problem. During a heavy soaking downpour, many area residents face sewage backup into their OWN HOMES. Last year, a local Atlantic Yards critic and political blogger explained how 18K new residents at Atlantic Yards and their sewage will impact those in the surrounding community. Unfortunately, every local resident expericencing problems has to implement an expensive fix that only makes things worse for the next guy: Daily Gotham, What Will Happen with Ratner's Raw Sewage?
Wednesday's flooding speaks to the larger problem of rampant large-scale development without attendant infrastructure improvements. Duffield St. Underground reminds readers that AKRF continues to profit from downplaying the impacts of large-scale development: Duffield St. Underground, Infrastructure breakdown- who profits?.
The Gowanus Canal area is not only downstream from several adjacent neighborhoods, but is also slated for a massive rezoning. Will the rezoning spur more residential development before the city finds a solution to this health and environmental problem?
Posted by lumi at August 13, 2007 7:52 AM