STORMWATER SURVEY: A NOBLE APPROACH TO TAILOR THE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS OF RESIDENTS IN FLOOD AFFECTED AREA IN QUEENS COUNTY, NEW YORK CITY

Stormwater can pose challenges to the City in the form of combined sewer overflows and flooding. Historically, some communities throughout New York City have been prone to flooding. Sections of Queens, Staten Island, the Bronx and Brooklyn, for instance, have periodically faced this problem. In recent years, however, flooding has occurred more frequently than in the past, affecting a broader range of communities than ever. Local topography, including lengthy river and ocean coastlines, dense urban development patterns, the capacity of our aging sewer system and increasingly extreme weather due to climate change are some of the biggest causes. The survey presents a variety of questions to inhabitants of several South Jamaica neighborhoods, regarding the frequency of flooding, sewer back-up problems, and the severity of groundwater issues. We are additionally interested in how homeowners respond when these issues occur. Finally, we gather information about household metrics (gender, years of residency, etc.) as well as their general knowledge of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the area in which they live. This survey marks the first stage of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Stormwater Project, which will provide the DEP with preliminary data about the Jamaica area as well as specific predicaments homeowners are facing. This research primarily focus on the frequency of flooding and groundwater issues. We will be comparing the results from the survey with natural groundwater levels within this area. Finally, the impact of natural mitigation systems in terms of reducing the severity of stormwater flooding.