Key Environmental Issues in U.S. EPA Region 2 Panel 4 Water Issues Angela Licata, Deputy Commissioner for Sustainability New York City Department of Environmental Protection May 29, 2014
Consumption Declining, Rates Increasing FY14: $3.58/CCF for water + $5.69/CCF for wastewater = $9.27/CCF combined ($0.012/gallon). 2
$4.0 Sustainability and Affordability From FY 2002 to 2013, $15.5 billion (62%) of capital commitments were mandated ($9.9 billion was spent on Harbor Water Quality Improvements alone.) $2.2 billion (17%) of FY 2014 to 2023 Capital Improvement Plan is mandated. In addition, DEP could spend billions on non-mandated but still critical programs to build storm sewers, replace storm and sanitary lines, and asset management. Capital Commitments Actual Projected $3.5 $3.0 $2.5 $0.4 $0.6 *Projections do not include additional spending on LTCPs, MS4, Climate Resiliency, Superfund Remediation, or potential additional drinking water mandates. Billions $2.0 $1.5 $0.5 $0.4 $1.1 $0.4 $3.3 $0.6 $1.5 $1.6 $2.2 $1.0 $0.5 $1.2 $0.4 $0.9 $1.3 $1.2 $1.3 $2.5 $1.6 $1.2 $0.9 $1.4 $1.2 $1.2 $0.9 $1.0 $0.8 $1.0 $0.8 $0.7 $0.7 $0.0 $0.8 $0.5 $0.4 $0.3 $0.3 $0.1 $0.2 $0.0 $0.2 $0.0 $0.1 $0.2 $0.0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Mandated Non-Mandated 3
Past Capital Costs, Current Debt Service DEP s capital commitments are tied to the System s debt service. Capital commitments result in expenditures; and debt is issued as expenditures are incurred From FY 2002 to 2014, commitments will total $27.2 billion, but, because of the lag effect, expenditures funded by debt issuance will total $25.6 billion Annual debt service increased by 142% from FY 2002 to 2013, but the Authority has seized opportunities in the low interest rate environment to refinance and buyback $7.9 billion of highercost debt over the past six years $4.0 Actual Projected $3.0 $ in Billions $2.0 $1.0 $0.0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Fiscal Year Commitments Expenditures Net Debt Service 4
Avg. Wastewater Bill Compared to HH Income Average wastewater bill as percentage of Household Income 8% 7% 6% 5% 4% 3% 2% 1% Income bracket % of HHs Less than $20,000 24% $20,000 to $39,999 19% $40,000 to $74,999 23% $75,000 to $99,999 11% $100,000 to $199,999 17% $200,000 or more 7% Currently 29% of HH pay 2% of income or more on wastewater/sewer bill. With estimated projections of rate increases, could increase to 39% in 2020. 0% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Percentage of Households 2014 2020 5
Avg. Water + WW Bill Compared to HH Income Average total water and wastewater bill as percentage of Household Income 13% 12% 11% 10% 9% 8% 7% 6% 5% 4% 3% 2% 1% 0% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Percentage of Households Income bracket % of HHs Less than $20,000 24% $20,000 to $39,999 19% $40,000 to $74,999 23% $75,000 to $99,999 11% $100,000 to $199,999 17% $200,000 or more 7% Currently ~21 % of HH pay 4.5 % of income or more on water and wastewater services With estimated projections of rate increases, could increase to 30 % in 2020 2014 2020 6
A Sustainable Approach to Stormwater 1. Build cost-effective grey infrastructure 2. Optimize the existing wastewater system Before: PS 261, Brooklyn 3. Control runoff from 10% of impervious surfaces through green infrastructure and other source controls 4. Institutionalize adaptive management, model impacts, measure CSOs, and monitor water quality 5. Sustain stakeholder engagement After: PS 261, Brooklyn 7
The Green Strategy Costs Less $8.0 $7.0 $6.8 $6.0 $5.0 $0.03 $5.3 $0.9 $3.9 Billions $4.0 $1.5 $2.4 $3.0 $2.0 $1.0 $2.9 $2.9 $- Green Strategy Grey Strategy Potential Tanks, Tunnels, & Expansions Green Infrastructure - Private Investment Reduced Flow Optimize Existing System Green Infrastructure - Public Investment Cost-Effective Grey Investments 8
NYC s Green Infrastructure Program Overview: Over $700 million budgeted in the 10 year capital plan 1. Right of Way GI Design/Construction: o Area-wide implementation of Bioswales and Stormwater Greenstreets o Adding GI to scope of existing capital highway and sewer projects 2. Public Property Retrofits: o School yards, playgrounds, public housing, parkland, parking lots Before: Gil Hodges Community Garden, Brooklyn 3. Green Infrastructure Grant Program: o $11.5 million committed for 29 projects over 3 grant cycles 4. Neighborhood Demonstration Areas 5. Research and Development Program 6. O&M / Asset Management Program 7. Outreach and Engagement Program After: Gil Hodges Community Garden, Brooklyn 9
Citywide Implementation Area-wide Strategy Original and 2013 Expanded Priority CSO Tributary Areas, now comprising a total of more than 38,000 acres DEP utilizes the Area-wide strategy to consider all possible right-of-way and on-site opportunities within a specific area Standardized approach allows DEP and partner agencies to achieve efficiency in design, and economies of scale in construction. DEP continues to adapt its standardized design and construction procedures in response to challenges in urban conditions 10
Area-Wide Strategy EXAMPLE Preliminary Sites The Area-wide approach allows OGI to: Focus resources on specific outfall tributary areas Saturate these areas with as much GI as possible Achieve efficiencies in design and construction 11
Citywide Implementation - Challenges Urban street conditions SITING CHALLENGES: Subsurface conditions Pedestrian & vehicular clear zones Mature trees, bus stops, building entrances Roadway geometry, transit uses, parking Utility conflicts Other challenges, such as hazardous materials, issues related to disrepair of the site s buildings or other features, and/or existing site uses or programming. 12
Right-of-way Green Infrastructure 13
Public Property Retrofits Porous Concrete Seth Low Houses Before Subsurface Detention Hope Gardens After Rain Garden Bronx River Houses 14
Green Infrastructure Grant Program Funding is available for design and construction of green infrastructure on non-city owned property in all combined sewer areas of New York City $11.5 million has been committed to 29 projects Brooklyn Navy Yard: Rooftop Farm Queens College: Rain Garden/Pavers Bishop Loughlin: Green Roof Lenox Hill House: Green Roof NYRP: Rain Garden/Pavers Osborne Association: Blue/Green Roof 15
Brooklyn Navy Yard Rooftop Farm 16
Queens College Rain Garden and Pavers 17
Bishop Loughlin Green Roof 18
Lenox Hill Neighborhood House- Green Roof 19
New York Restoration Project Rain Garden/Pavers 20
Osborne Association Blue/Green Roof 21
New School Green Roof 22
Maintenance of Green Infrastructure ROW Maintenance: Partnership with DPR to maintain sites in the ROW on a weekly or bi-weekly schedule. Dedicated DPR Crews funded by DEP 2 year contractor guarantee Locations visited regularly to: o Remove litter and dead leaves o Replace plants o Prune trees o Clear inlets/outlets Onsite Maintenance: Individual MOUs with each City Agency 23
GI Program Community Outreach Green Infrastructure Stakeholders o Citizen s Group o Steering Committee Construction Notification o Presentations to Community Boards, Elected Officials, and Local Community Groups o Engineers provide handouts when approached by residents and businesses Education and Engagement o ROW Bioswale Care Stewardship Program with MillionTreesNYC o Rain Barrel Giveaway Programs Green Infrastructure Brochure 24
Green Infrastructure for Resiliency 25
THANK YOU 26