Environmental solutions will quell New York’s sewage overflows

New York City will soon put approximately $2.6 billion toward environmental infrastructure to regulate the flow of untreated sewage and storm water during rainfalls. According to the New York Times, New York’s biggest water quality problems are sewer overflows that pollute nearby waterways. The new environmental techniques, such as porous pavement and green roofs, will help take the water load off of the city’s combined sewer system that carries both storm and sewage water.

The new water technology will reduce sewer overflows by an estimated 1.5 billion gallons of water each year. To sweeten the deal, city officials will add the ability for citizen groups to sue government administrators for term violations to the city’s federal Clean Water Act permits.

Read more at New York Times Green.

Image credit: The Washington Post