NEW YORK, NY — City officials outlined a $108 million plan to overhaul thousands of aging catch basins, pointing to heavier rainfall and recurring street flooding across neighborhoods.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the investment in Sunset Park, standing near curbside grates designed to funnel stormwater into the city’s sewer system.
“When basin grates are blocked, neighborhoods are flooded,” Mamdani said. “We are investing $108 million to replace and modernize older and outdated catch basins across our city.”
The project will replace more than 6,700 catch basins over the next decade, beginning in Queens in July and expanding to Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Bronx.
The work builds on a $20 million investment in new cleaning trucks and ongoing annual funding for upgrades.
New York City maintains more than 150,000 catch basins connected to a 7,500-mile sewer network. Officials said many were built for rainfall patterns from more than a century ago.
Commissioner Lisa Garcia of the Department of Environmental Protection said recent storms have tested that system.
“New York City’s most intense rainstorms have all come in the past four years,” Garcia said. “That means our infrastructure has to work harder and smarter.”
Garcia said the upgrades will increase capacity and improve drainage as storms grow more severe. Crews will also expand the use of slotted manhole covers and bike-friendly grates.
The agency will prioritize replacements using inspection data, flood sensors and 311 complaints.
“We know which ones we need to fix or repair right away,” Garcia said. “We’re also aware of chronic flooding areas, and those will help us prioritize.”
Officials said response times for clogged basins have improved, with most complaints now addressed within three days.