The Gowanus Canal takes a major hit of both storm sewer and household sewer runoff during heavy storms and the recent weekend storms have not been kind to it. After yesterday’s storm, the water level in the canal was alarmingly high, but what was worse was the condition of the water itself: filthy, brackish, full of crud and fairly nauseating. At least 300 million gallons a year of untreated sewage flow into the canal a year, and the actual figure is believed to be a lot higher. Upgrades to pumping and flushing systems are supposed to improve things eventually, but the massive flow of overflow sewage directly into the canal (known as CSOs in the trade) will continue whenever there’s enough rain to overwhelm the new, improved system. All of which will make like in any new developments that go up along the canal quite interesting in years to come.