Climate change is putting stress on our stormwater and sewer system
Like other coastal cities, Providence is experiencing more frequent and intense storms and hotter days due to climate change. Our aging sewer system is not prepared to handle this extreme weather. Even small storms cause flooding because pipes are too small or in disrepair. When sewer pipes fail, they can cause flooding in basements, create sinkholes, and contaminate local water. These failures are costly, impact daily life, and can even put lives in danger.
“At least 60% of Providence sewer pipes are over 100 years old”
Providence is investing in resilience to climate change
DPW Projects
The City of Providence’s Department of Public Works (DPW) has dedicated over $2.7 million to study, inspect, clean, and repair blocked or damaged pipes. These comprehensive projects manage polluted stormwater run-off and prevent flooding.
Community involvement through SNEP SOAR
The City won a $300,000 grant from the Southeast New England Program (SNEP)’s called SNEP Opportunity to Advance Resilience (SOAR) to understand and solve flooding in disadvantaged communities. The City is mapping urban flooding, reviewing studies, and suggesting solutions focused on the Woonasquatucket River watershed and West River. The City is working with community groups to gather residents’ ideas and create an effective plan.
These projects help the City respond to and prevent flooding. But without the money to replace our old system, they aren’t enough to face climate change. The Sustainable Stormwater and Sewer System Assessment is a recent study that will guide the city to resilience.
To create a sustainable and fair stormwater and sewer system, the City contracted a study of the current and future operations and costs. The report shows how climate change and legal pressure make it important to fix our old and damaged infrastructure. So, the report outlines a plan to pay for updates to Providence’s stormwater and sewer system. The funding plan considers the needs of the City’s economically disadvantaged by making sure that all property owners, including those who don’t pay taxes, pay their fair share.
To engage the community, the report includes input from the Assessment Study Task Force, whose members ranged from developers to environmental justice advocates. Using engagement strategies from the Harvard Bloomberg Collaboration Track, the Task Force spent eight months reviewing challenges and laws impacting Providence’s infrastructure to decide how the City could fund a better system.
This report lays the foundation for the City to fund much-needed changes to our stormwater and sewer system.
