The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has released its 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. Stormwater systems earned a D—one of the lowest marks on the list. For New York and New Jersey, where dense urban landscapes and aging systems are the norm, this is more than a statistic. It’s a direct call to action for the environmental engineering sector.
While the national infrastructure grade improved modestly to a C, stormwater lags behind, keeping company with roads and public transit as some of the nation’s weakest links. In our region, outdated infrastructure meets intensifying storms and tighter regulations, compounding risk for developers, property owners, and commercial stakeholders.
Why Stormwater Systems Are Failing—and the Role of Environmental Engineering
Most stormwater infrastructure in NYC and NJ was built for a bygone era—one with smaller buildings, less pavement, and more predictable rainfall. Today, climate change and urbanization are rewriting the rules:
- Full-Spectrum Site Civil & Environmental Engineering
- Our team produces DEP/NJDEP-compliant drainage plans, stormwater detention and retention systems, and advanced storm sewer layouts—optimized for even the tightest sites.
- Permitting and Regulatory Guidance
- We navigate the entire regulatory process, from SWPPP and MS4 filings to FEMA coordination, leveraging up-to-date local and federal requirements to minimize risk and streamline approvals.
- Future-Ready, Resilient Design
- Using current rainfall data, climate forecasts, and floodplain modeling, we engineer systems that exceed minimum code and perform under evolving climate scenarios.
High urban density exacerbates these problems. Tight footprints, utility congestion, and overlapping jurisdictions turn every drainage improvement into a technical and regulatory puzzle. Stormwater Is an Environmental, Financial, and Legal Risk—All at Once. Stormwater risk is woven through the entire project lifecycle. Poor planning leads to delayed permits, redesigns, change orders, and potential fines from federal, state, and city agencies. Whether you’re developing a commercial property, repositioning a brownfield, or upgrading an existing site, a weak stormwater strategy can undermine project viability and long-term value.
Envicon’s Environmental Engineering Approach: Raising the Grade in Stormwater
At Envicon Engineering, stormwater management is a core discipline—anchored in environmental engineering and real-world constructability. We work with clients in the private sector to deliver integrated, compliant, and resilient solutions tailored to the unique challenges of New York and New Jersey.
Delivering Solutions That Protect People, Projects, and the Environment
The ASCE’s D-grade isn’t just about infrastructure—it’s about public health, business continuity, and regional resilience. In rapidly changing markets like Hudson County, Brooklyn, and northern NJ, environmental engineering is now central to successful development and compliance.
Our philosophy: Don’t just draw plans—engineer solutions that work for decades, not just during construction.
Build Smarter. Build Resilient. Build with Envicon.
Stormwater systems protect more than property; they anchor public safety, regulatory compliance, and economic vitality. The D-grade reflects what happens when environmental risks go unaddressed. At Envicon, we turn that risk into opportunity—through technical leadership, regulatory expertise, and hands-on collaboration.
If your next project involves site development, land disturbance, or new construction in New York or New Jersey, engage Envicon early. We’ll identify risks, fast-track compliance, and deliver a stormwater system built for the future.
Connect with our environmental engineering team to set a new standard for your site.
