Category: Policy

Site Connection Proposals

Site Connection Proposals

Site Connection Proposals

12/11/25

“How do new buildings and major renovations in NYC detail how they will connect to the sewer system?”

New York City is the largest and most complex city in the United States. Furthermore, it’s located in a humid climate prone to major storms. Consequently, the sewer system is of vital importance to the city. New developments and major renovations in NYC are required to submit plans detailing how they will connect to the sewers using designs, flow calculations, pipe types, and city infrastructure impact. These Site Connection Proposals must be approved by the NYC Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Water and Sewer Operations (BWSO). Site connection proposals are critical to maintaining NYC’s public infrastructure safety.

Sewer Operations Volume

Sewer Operations Volume

Sewer Operations Volume

12/10/25

“How can we represent how much stormwater runoff from a building will enter the sewers at peak storm time?”

New buildings can generate large amounts of stormwater runoff if they increase impervious surface. This can overwhelm sewers if they’re not attenuated. To manage this, New York City has developed a concept called Sewer Operational Volume. Sewer operations volume is a volume that must be accounted for to attenuate the flow of a 10-year storm to the city sewers. Sewer operations volume is only met if you restrict flow to the maximum release rate for the site. Regulating sewer operations volume is critical for NYC to protect its residents from the worst impacts of climate change.

Utility Excavation Color Codes

Utility Excavation Color Codes

Utility Excavation Color Codes

12/09/25

“How do utilities mark where their underground infrastructure is during excavation?”

Utility infrastructure is often underground, such as sewer pipes and electric power lines. This means that during construction excavation, people need to mark where the existing infrastructure is to avoid damage. The American Public Works Association has developed Utility Excavation Color Codes to visually indicate on-site locations of infrastructure, such as red for power lines or blue for potable water. Utility operators are obligated to mark their infrastructure location using paint and/or flags in their assigned colors. Utility excavation color codes help protect construction professionals and the general public from preventable accidents.

Image credit: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/

Stormwater Management Programs (SWMP)

Stormwater Management Programs (SWMP)

Stormwater Management Programs (SWMP)

12/03/25

“How do municipalities plan for stormwater management?”

Nearly every part of the world receives stormwater, whether it’s the Syrian desert or the Amazonian Rainforest. The runoff from this stormwater can carry pollutants from municipalities to nearby water bodies. Towns and cities are required to devise a plan for managing stormwater pollution transport. In the U.S., these plans are called Stormwater Management Programs (SWMPs). The Clean Water Act requires public entities that operate MS4 systems to develop stormwater management programs. 

Impaired Water Bodies

Impaired Water Bodies

Impaired Water Bodies

12/02/25

“How does the EPA classify water bodies that don’t meet water quality standards?”

Water bodies all over the world have different levels of pollution. In the U.S., some water bodies are so polluted that they don’t meet water quality standards, leading the EPA to classify them as Impaired Water Bodies. Impaired water bodies are eligible to have a total maximum load pollution limit and environmental review for projects that may impact them to protect against further degradation.

Adopt a Catch Basin Programs

Adopt a Catch Basin Programs

Adopt a Catch Basin Programs

11/17/25

“How can neighborhood residents take care of their local catch basins?”

Catch basins accumulate debris underneath and on top of their grating. If this mess is left uncleaned, then floods may pile up, and the inside of pipes may become less functional. While it takes advanced equipment to clean underneath the grating, sweeping away debris from the top is very straightforward. Municipal governments have established Adopt a Catch Basin Programs to invite residents to routinely clean the catch basins in their neighborhoods. Residents may be assigned a particular catch basin to clear. Adopt a catch basin programs go a long way to make neighborhoods healthier and more resilient to climate change.

Image credit: https://portal.311.nyc.gov/

Sole Source Aquifers

Sole Source Aquifers

Sole Source Aquifers

11/09/25

“How does the U.S. designate an aquifer that’s the only or principal source of drinking water?”

Municipalities in the U.S. use a plethora of different sources for drinking water, from groundwater aquifers to coastal desalination plants. But some communities rely on a single aquifer for their only or principal source of drinking water. If this aquifer gets contaminated, then it could spell huge trouble for the community. To protect themselves, communities can apply to the EPA to have their aquifer designated as a Sole Source Aquifer if they receive 50 percent or more of their water from a single aquifer and have no reasonable alternative sources if the aquifer becomes contaminated. Sole source aquifer designation provides legal benefits for communities such as extra environmental review for projects that may damage the aquifer, increasing public awareness, and open up potential federal grants.

Groundwater Conservation Easements

Groundwater Conservation Easements

Groundwater Conservation Easements

10/11/25

“How can governments compensate property owners to restrict groundwater usage?”

Aquifers can deplete, and land can subside if too much groundwater is pumped. In many parts of the world, groundwater resources are controlled by private property owners. Enforcing these property owners to conserve the greater good can be difficult. One tool governments can leverage is to offer incentives to landowners, such as direct payments, credits, or tax write-offs, to conserve groundwater. One example is California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act to improve groundwater conservation coordination between communities and local governments. These Groundwater Conservation Easements can enable aquifer protection and sustainable land-use for regions to prosper.