Rebuilding Brooklyn: Underground tanks to prevent sewage overflow into Gowanus Canal

Once the tanks are completed they will be covered up and become waterfront green space.

Nadia Galindo

May 8, 2025, 8:59 AM

Updated 3 hr ago

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A major milestone in a project aimed at preventing sewage from being dumped into the Gowanus Canal.
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) completed the excavation of the Red Hook tank in March.
It's a 8 million gallon underground tank that will capture sewage overflow into the Gowanus Canal which happens when it rains.
It's one of two tanks near the canal being constructed.
"By having a big tank, it's going to absorb all of that storm water so that we don't have to dump sewage into the canal and that will keep the canal clean," said Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala, NYC Department of Environmental Protection.
Once the tanks are completed they will be covered up and become waterfront green space.
"We've advocated successfully advocated for a 20 acre network of parks and public space centered on the canal," said Andrea Parker, executive director at Gowanus Canal Conservancy.
Both underground tanks are expected to be completed by 2029.
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