10 billion gallons of sewage

Hurricane Sandy brought sewage-filled floodwaters to Breezy Point

Over 10 billion gallons of raw and partly treated sewage gushed into waterways, onto streets and into homes as a result of Hurricane Sandy. 

Alyson Kenward, the principal author of the report, said in a teleconference that rising seas and strengthening storms, a result of climate change, could increase the threat of similar spills in the future. She urged an overhaul of the region's wastewater infrastructure.

"Our sewage infrastructure isn't designed to handle this type of storm surge," Dr. Kenward said. [NY Times]