Hoboken's First Public Rain Garden Unveiled at NHSA Headquarters

Local officials agree that a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach is necessary to combat flooding in Hoboken.

While costly solutions like flood pumps and storm surge barriers are essential parts of the city's flood resiliency plan, there are other cheaper infrastructure improvements that can also have an impact.

North Hudson Sewerage Authority recently installed one such inexpensive solution at its headquarters and wastewater treatment plant on Adams Street: a rain garden with plantings that line the front and west sides of the building.

Rain gardens capture runoff from rain and melting snow before it can reach storm drains, preserving thousands of gallons of rainwater that can be reused for irrigation, and confining all of the pollutants — such as oil, fertilizer and pesticides — that come with it.

“As we work together to resolve our flooding issues, we need to look at every available opportunity to reduce the amount of stormwater flowing into our system,” NHSA executive director Richard Wolff said. “Rain gardens are a fairly simple way to help alleviate the problem in a way that also provides additional benefit, creating a beautiful setting that serves as a habitat for birds and beneficial insects while reducing pests and harmful insects."

Workers from CH2M HILL, a global engineering and design firm, installed the plants and other components of the garden and continue to operate and maintain it.

Hoboken's rain garden collects water running off the NHSA facility’s parking lots that then soak deep into the ground for use by nearby plants and trees that break down pollutants in the process. 

NHSA Chairman Frank Raia said the garden would also come in handy on educational tours the Authority often hosts at its facility.

“The rain garden also makes a great statement around the wastewater plant, and we’ll use it to teach kids and adults about the nature of nature,” he said.