$46M Water, Sewer Project Underway in the Bronx

New water mains will help ensure a reliable supply of drinking water for decades to come and larger sewers and new catch basins will improve drainage during heavy rainstorms.
$46M Water, Sewer Project Underway in the Bronx
Photos courtesy of NYC Water

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The New York City Department of Environmental Protection recently announced that a $46 million project recently got underway to upgrade more than 5 miles of water and sewer infrastructure along Southern Boulevard in the Bronx. Work includes the construction of more than 5 miles of new steel trunk water mains and ductile iron distribution mains in order to ensure a reliable supply of drinking water and improve water pressure in the south Bronx.

In addition, 1 mile of new, larger sewer infrastructure will be constructed, along with the installation of dozens of new catch basins, to improve drainage in the area. The project will also include the installation of new fire hydrants to ensure firefighters have ready access to the city’s water supply.

“This $46 million investment will improve the quality of life for residents and businesses in Crotona Park, Morrisania, Woodstock, Mott Haven, Port Morris and Hunts Point,” says DEP Acting Commissioner Vincent Sapienza. “New water mains will help to ensure a reliable supply of drinking water for decades to come and larger sewers and new catch basins will improve drainage during heavy rainstorms.”

DEP is funding the project and the Department of Design and Construction is managing the construction, which is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2018. The DDC is the city’s primary capital construction project manager, providing communities with new or renovated public buildings such as such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, new or upgraded roadways, sewers, and water mains in all five boroughs.

The infrastructure upgrade project in the Bronx includes the installation of 14,023 linear feet of 48- and 36-inch trunk water mains, and 13,885 linear feet of 12-inch water mains. In order to expand the capacity of the drainage system, 3,270 linear feet of 12-inch sewers will be replaced with 15-inch sewers. The project also includes the installation of 29 new catch basins, 64 new fire hydrants and 110 trees.

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing more than 1 billion gallons of water each day to more than 9 million residents, including 8.5 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.

The city 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. 

To manage this $10 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other city agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative, and environmentally conscious design and construction strategies to city projects.

“Having a world-class infrastructure system is imperative for the growth of our borough, especially as it pertains to the delivery of fresh drinking water to our communities,” says Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “Unfortunately, in recent months, we have seen what happens, in other parts of the country, when we don’t take care of our infrastructure and protect our vital drinking water supplies.”



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