by MARK SVENVOLD, Samsung Voice, Forbes, February 12, 2013

When Hurricane Sandy devastated New York in 2012, it created a uniquely nasty “perfect storm” in the Gowanus section of Brooklyn. In the aftermath of the floods, rainwater overwhelmed the municipal water treatment systems, dumping millions of gallons of raw sewage into the Gowanus Canal–already a federal Superfund toxic site.

For middle school teacher Lynn Shon, the problem hit home for several reasons. She’d already been investigating the phenomenon of water runoff with her science class at the Peter Rouget Middle School, (M.S. 88) in Park Slope, which borders Gowanus.

However, Shon had first heard about the issue two years ago as part of a curriculum development program at The Earth Institute at Columbia University. In urban areas, the asphalt and concrete that make up so much of these landscapes do not absorb water. During heavy rains, water runoff overwhelms municipal water treatment facilities; and when storms hit, these systems are forced to dump waste directly into rivers and streams like the Gowanus Canal.

The hazards of storm water runoff often go unnoticed, even in areas most affected by them. “I had no idea that the whole problem existed,” says Shon.

Wanting to explore the issue further, she entered her science class’s project in Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow contest, which challenges classrooms around the country to use science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to help solve environmental issues in communities.

As Shon’s class was working on a solution, the problem came right to their doorstep. Hurricane Sandy swamped the city’s water treatment systems. Sewage began pouring into the Gowanus Canal and surrounding rivers and beaches. “That storm really made the issue of sewage overflow relevant to our students,” says Shon.

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