Stormwater Management

Stormwater is the rain and melting snow that falls on our rooftops, streets, and sidewalks.

As global and ocean temperatures rise, New York City is experiencing more frequent and intense storms. As a result, New Yorkers are seeing more flooding in their communities than ever before, especially in low-lying, inland areas of the city. These storms can happen suddenly, disrupting our daily routines and causing damage to our homes and neighborhoods and even loss of life.

When stormwater can’t be absorbed naturally into the ground, it eventually flows into storm drains (or catch basins) and drains into the city’s Sewer System. Sewers work in every rainstorm and protect fully against 98% of rain events. Storms that drop a lot of rain in a short amount of time can overwhelm the sewer system, and it can back up into street or homes or overflow into local waterways.

The City is advancing a multi-layered approach using green and grey infrastructure to expand stormwater management and to maximize the efficiency of sewers across all five boroughs.

In compliance with Local Law 70 of 2025, the City developed an interactive Stormwater Initiatives Dashboard. Use the dashboard to explore information about stormwater projects, green infrastructure, and long-term planning in flood risk areas across the city.

The City is also embarking on a multi-year stormwater master planning process to assess flood risk and establish a capital investment strategy for near-term and long-term investments. For more information, visit the ArcGIS StoryMap.

View the ArcGIS StoryMap

View the interactive Stormwater Initiatives Dashboard.