April 1, 2014

CONTACT:

DEP (718) 595-6600; DDC (718) 391-1641

City Completes $24 Million Upgrade of Water and Sewer Systems on the South Shore of Staten Island

Project Will Allow 150 Homes in the Rossville Neighborhood to Connect to the City Sewer System

Catch Basins and Sewers will Divert Stormwater to a Bluebelt Wetland and Reduce Street Flooding

Photos of the Construction Project and a Map of the Work Area are Posted on DEP’s Flickr Page

Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Emily Lloyd and Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Acting Commissioner David Resnick today announced the completion of a $24 million water and sewer infrastructure upgrade on the south shore of Staten Island that will allow 150 homes in the Rossville neighborhood to connect to the City’s sewer system. The project included the installation of nearly three miles of sanitary sewers, more than a mile of storm sewers and 52 catch basins, as well as new drinking water distribution mains throughout the area. Prior to this project the Rossville neighborhood did not have a sewer system and street flooding was a common problem when it rained. The newly installed catch basins will allow precipitation to drain into the new storm sewers where it will be diverted to the Bluebelt system, which will help to alleviate street flooding during heavy rain storms. The new sanitary sewers will allow homeowners to connect to the City sewer system and discontinue the use of septic tanks. The infrastructure upgrade, which began in 2011, was funded by DEP and managed by DDC.

“This $24 million investment in the Rossville neighborhood will reduce flooding, improve the quality of life for local residents and increase the value of their homes,” said DEP Commissioner Emily Lloyd. “With nearly $700 million budgeted for work on Staten Island over the next 10 years we will continue to build out, and upgrade, water and sewer infrastructure to ensure the borough remains a desirable place to live and raise a family.”

"This project brings miles of new water and sewer lines and better drainage to the South Shore. The project was completed on time and under budget, and what’s more, 150 homeowners will no longer have to deal with the constant hassle of maintaining septic tanks. We at DDC are proud to work with our partners at DEP to build or upgrade the infrastructure on which so many New Yorkers depend each day," said DDC Acting Commissioner Resnick.

“The completion of this project is good news for the South Shore, particularly for those streets that flooded with even the slightest bit of rain,” said Borough President James Oddo. “And it should serve as a reminder about just how critical our Bluebelts are and how, at every opportunity, we should create, embrace and enhance our Bluebelt system.”

“This project will provide immediate relief to a community that has been plagued with flooding, while at the same time protect our vulnerable ecosystem,” said City Council Minority Leader Vincent Ignizio. “I applaud the DEP for continuing to make smart investments in infrastructure that will benefit the South Shore for decades to come.”

“The completion of the recent infrastructure improvements on the South Shore of Staten Island is welcome news,” said Senator Andrew Lanza. “I’d like to thank DEP for addressing the water and sewer needs of the Rossville community and helping to manage stormwater and reduce flooding.”

“I am glad the City was able to get this critical work done on time and under budget,” said Assembly Member Joseph Borelli. “There will be no more flooding in Rossville and no more concerns over septic tank collapses.”

The project included the installation of 13,758 feet of sanitary sewers, 7,433 feet of storm sewers, 52 catch basins, 118 manholes, and 10 fire hydrants, as well as new sidewalks, curbs and pedestrian ramps, and resurfaced roadways. The new catch basins and storm sewers will divert stormwater directly to a Bluebelt where it will be stored and naturally filtered. The Bluebelt program preserves and optimizes natural drainage corridors including streams, ponds, and lakes. In addition, the Bluebelts provide important open spaces and diverse wildlife habitats. Expanding the use of Bluebelts to reduce flooding and improve the water quality of New York Harbor is one of the operational goals outlined in Strategy 2011-2014, a far-reaching strategic plan that lays out 100 distinct initiatives to make DEP the safest, most efficient, cost-effective, and transparent water utility in the nation.

While the roadways were opened to upgrade the sewer system, the City also installed 4,548 feet of new distribution water mains. Distribution water mains range in size from 8 to 12 inches and make up the local water delivery system. Upgrading the water main network will help to ensure a reliable supply of high quality drinking water for area residents and businesses.

The infrastructure upgrade took place within the confines of Community Board 3 and its boundaries are: Radigan Avenue between Bloomingdale Road and Bombay Street; Mason Boulevard between Bloomingdale Road and Winant Avenue; Mcbaine Avenue between Bloomingdale Road and Rossville Avenue; Kramer Avenue between Bloomingdale Road and Maguire Avenue; Woodrow Road between Bloomingdale Road and Rossville Avenue; Maguire Ave between Woodrow Road and Wieland Avenue; Elks Place between Woodrow Road and Wieland Avenue; Lenevar Avenue between Woodrow Road and Wieland Avenue; Helios Place between Woodrow Road and Mcbaine Avenue (dead end); Latham Place between Woodrow Road and Mcbaine Avenue (dead end); Mason Boulevard between Bombay Street and Rossville Avenue; Maguire Avenue between Mcbaine Avenue and Correll Avenue (dead end); Winant Avenue between Correll Avenue and Woodrow Road; Shiel Avenue between Bloomingdale Road and Bombay Street; and Kessler Road between Kramer Avenue and Woodrow Road.

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing more than one billion gallons of water each day to more than nine million residents, including eight million in New York City. The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs, and 7,500 miles of sewer lines and 96 pump stations take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants. In addition, DEP has a robust capital program, with a planned $14 billion in investments over the next 10 years that will create up to 3,000 construction-related jobs per year. This capital program is responsible for critical projects like City Water Tunnel No. 3; the Staten Island Bluebelt program, an ecologically sound and cost-effective stormwater management system; the city’s Watershed Protection Program, which protects sensitive lands upstate near the city’s reservoirs in order to maintain their high water quality; and the installation of more than 820,000 Automated Meter Reading devices, which will allow customers to track their daily water use, more easily manage their accounts and be alerted to potential leaks on their properties. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/nycwater, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/nycwater.