Bronx crews dig deep to clear clogged drains after nor’easter
At first glance, it may look like a giant claw machine — but the only prize here is a bed of dirt.
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Heavy rain from this week’s nor’easter left storm drains across the Bronx clogged with debris — but the city’s Department of Environmental Protection is hard at work clearing them.
At first glance, it may look like a giant claw machine — but the only prize here is a bed of dirt.
“A little bit of leaves and debris, you know from the water washing from the storm,” said Duron Alexander, who has decades of experience cleaning catch basins across the Bronx.
Rain, snow or shine, Alexander checks about 15 drains a day. But it’s not always just dirt and leaves his clam shell is catching.
“Pieces of wood, a lot of bottles, occasional cellphones — you know things like that," he said. "People lose them and it washes into the basin."
DEP maintains more than 150,000 catch basins citywide, which play a key role in filtering stormwater and preventing flooding. Each drain is cleaned at least once every three years, but Alexander says after this week’s storm, he’s been tackling multiple basins all by himself.
“Depending on how dirty the basin is, it could [take] a half hour, 45 minutes — it could be as [long] as an hour,” Alexander said.
“If the basin is really full it could slow up the function, but the basin usually takes water and we’re always on top of it so it’s usually good."
DEP is also asking for the public’s help through its Adopt-a-Catch Basin program. Participants can receive free shovels or brooms to sweep debris off the grates and help keep their neighborhoods flood-free.
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