In the 1990s, New York chose wetlands over conventional storm sewers on Staten Island

Per Times of India, in the nineteen-nineties, New York City chose an unconventional approach for managing stormwater on Staten Island: rather than build expensive underground sewers, the city revitalized natural wetlands as part of the Bluebelt initiative. The strategy saved taxpayers eighty million dollars compared to conventional drainage systems while providing lasting environmental benefits. The wetlands absorb runoff naturally, extend the city's protected wetland areas, and strengthen resilience against climate change and pollution.

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