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Q&A

Effective infrastructure interventions for groundwater flooding management

1:26:31

·

105 sec

Council Member Avilés asks about effective infrastructure interventions for groundwater flooding. Commissioner Aggarwala explains that while DEP is not directly responsible for managing groundwater tables, he provides information on common methods used in construction.

French drains are mentioned as a passive system for managing groundwater in buildings
Many buildings use pumps to manage groundwater, especially those with deep basements
Aggarwala emphasizes that groundwater management is typically the responsibility of property owners, not DEP

Alexa Avilés

1:26:31

Great.

1:26:31

Thank you.

1:26:37

In terms of In in your estimation, what have been some of the most kind of effective infrastructure inter interventions to remediate groundwater or flooding?

Rohit T Aggarwala

1:26:54

Council member, we have not, as as I've said, we we do not have the responsibility to manage groundwater tables around the city that has not been part of DEP's role and responsibility.

1:27:07

In, you know, generally speaking, when a home is built or any building is built, the groundwater table has to be taken into account, and lots of buildings both around New York City and around the country actually build in management of groundwater into their basements usually.

1:27:27

And so the most effective thing that is often done is what's called the French drain, which is kind of a passive system that allows groundwater to drain out and stay out of the areas that should be kept dry.

1:27:41

Many homes have some pumps that they just use on a regular basis because there are many homes and businesses.

1:27:48

And that's particularly true where you have a larger building that is going deeper and deeper.

1:27:54

Right?

1:27:54

So it's one thing if a, you know, if a home has a basement that goes 10 feet below ground level, but sometimes you have buildings that go 30, even 40 feet below ground level and often have mechanical equipment down there.

1:28:09

And, you know, the reality is that if you're at that level underground, there is a high likelihood you're going to have groundwater.

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Timeline and expectations for the DEP-USGS groundwater study partnership

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Building standards and government regulation for groundwater management