New York Community Upgrades Sewer and Water Infrastructure

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection and the New York City Department of Transportation broke ground on Oct. 16, 2012, on an upgrade to the water and sewer infrastructure of the Springfield Gardens section of Queens, N.Y. This is the fourth phase (Phase D) of a $175-million neighborhood infrastructure improvement project, designed by Dewberry, to solve chronic flooding in the community.

The $53-million phase involves 2.8 miles of new sewer line, and 84 new catch basins. Approximately 3.5 acres of new wetlands will be created. Dewberry’s design includes a series of innovative Best Management Practice wetland designs:

• Springfield Lake will be dredged of 17,000 cu yd of sediments to increase its depth and reduce algal blooms.
• Storm water from new storm sewer lines will be filtered in marshes and wetlands, helping to improve the water quality of Jamaica Bay.
• More than 25,000 square feet of porous concrete will be installed in the median of Springfield Boulevard, allowing storm water to pass through the concrete and be absorbed into the ground naturally. Storm water will then be used by trees and other vegetation.

The Springfield Gardens sewer and water infrastructure upgrade is expected to be completed in 2014.

Source: Dewberry