This Bike Path Also Helps Prevent Flooded Sewers

In their efforts to reduce the pervasive problem of combined sewer overflow, cities all over the country are increasingly turning to a wide category of projects commonly referred to as "green infrastructure." The challenges these projects are designed to address are especially pervasive in older cities, when heavy rainfalls overwhelm antiquated sewer systems and result in untreated sewage flowing directly into waterways. Some of the tools used by green infrastructure designers include porous pavements, stormwater planters, green roofs, and bioswales, which slow the flow of rainwater and trap pollutants at the surface before they can enter the water treatment system.

The whole concept got another boost on Tuesday, when New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced it would be a major component of his comprehensive $20 billion flood mitigation plan. These approaches are also proving just as affordable as the so-called "grey" infrastructure of pipes and drains that cities have traditionally relied on, or in some cases even more so.