Washington Floods Expose Double Threat: Old Drains and Climate Change

"WASHINGTON — When almost a month’s worth of rain deluged this city on Monday morning, turning streets into rivers and basements into wading pools, it showed just how vulnerable cities with aging water systems can be in the era of climate change.

The rainfall overwhelmed the capital’s storm-water system, much of it built almost a century ago to handle a smaller population, far less pavement and not nearly as much water.

“We’re still approaching this 21st-century problem with 20th-century infrastructure, and it’s completely inadequate,” said Constantine Samaras, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. “And it’s only going to get worse.”"

Christopher Flavelle reports for the New York Times July 9, 2019.

SEE ALSO:

"D.C. Is Vulnerable To Three Types Of Flooding. Climate Change Is Making Them All Worse." (WAMU)

Source: NY Times, 07/11/2019