As Seen in the New Yorker: “Sponge Cities” Article Spotlights Hoboken and Reflects NHSA’s Role in Flood Resilience

Photo illustration by Javier Jaén

A recent article from The New Yorker, “Can Sponge Cities Save Us from the Coming Floods?”, explores how cities around the world are rethinking stormwater management in response to increasing climate impacts. From Copenhagen to Hoboken, communities are investing in innovative infrastructure and strategies to better manage heavy rainfall and reduce flooding.

The concept of “sponge cities” focuses on capturing, storing, and slowly releasing stormwater, helping to ease pressure on traditional sewer systems while improving overall resilience. These approaches are becoming increasingly important as extreme weather events become more frequent.

In Hoboken, many of these principles are already being put into practice—and the North Hudson Sewerage Authority plays a key role behind the scenes. As part of our Long-Term Control Plan, NHSA co-manages critical stormwater infrastructure designed to help the city handle major rain events.

This includes the stormwater pump station at ResilienCity Park, as well as the one-million-gallon underground storage tank located beneath the park. Working together, these systems help capture and manage excess stormwater, reducing the risk of flooding and protecting the community.

While the City of Hoboken operates several resiliency parks, these integrated systems are an essential part of a broader strategy to improve stormwater management and support long-term climate resilience across the region.

We encourage you to read the full article to learn more about how cities are adapting to a changing climate and the role infrastructure plays in building more resilient communities.

🔗 Read the full article: Can Sponge Cities Save Us from the Coming Floods? | The New Yorker