“Old black water, keep on rollin’,” sang the Doobie Brothers, who were referring to the Mississippi River. Back in 1974, they didn’t know the environmentally friendly blackwater systems that can now rehab waste water to make it usable.
We’ve now learned the Durst Organization intends to pull the plug and the pipes from the city’s sanitary waste lines as well as the Con Ed power lines at its Hallets Point project on the Astoria waterfront, where the developer plans 2,404 units, of which 483 will be affordable.
Along with its first twin 20-story apartment towers, designed by Dattner Architects, the development includes more apartments for the adjacent Astoria Houses that now has 22 buildings on 32 acres, and all of them will be taken off the current overflowing city sewers and overloaded electrical lines.
The plan is to build three blackwater plants over five buildings, to treat 50,000 to 80,000 gallons per day. The treated wastewater will be reused.
“Not only do they take care of their own storm water and sewage needs but they will help the neighborhood,” said Jay Valgora of Studio V Architecture, which designed the master plan for seven projects along the waterfront peninsula that will include an esplanade with two schools and a food market.
Blackwater recycling is already in place some buildings in Battery Park City. A new system being financed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for developing-world countries creates drinkable water and burns the waste.
No word from the Dursts as to which system they will use for the Hallets Point and Astoria Houses but a spokesman said it won’t be one that makes drinkable water.
