Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
capture storm water runoff instead of allowing it to wash away into
the sewers and beyond.
Going Green
Going green one barrel at a time is one way the federally estab-
lished Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (http://
www.potomacriver.org/cms/) promotes better use of its water
resources. The commission sells 60-gallon rain barrels and offers
workshops on how to use them in your garden. On the other side
of the country, King County, Washington (http://kingcounty
.gov/), offers guidance for consumers on how to create your own
rain barrel and cistern system. Many other organizations and gov-
ernment entities offer rain barrels and guidance on using them,
too. You can check out a few at http://epa.gov/region3/p2/
what-is-rainbarrel. pdf. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also
explains step by step how to make your own (http://epa.gov/reg3esd1/
garden/rainbarrel.html).
All kinds of water-savings initiatives have taken root in many
American cities. Here are a few more ways they're working, accord-
ing to the EPA:
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
Planting vegetated swales instead
of paving berms along some roads to enhance recapture of
storm water runoff.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:
Investing millions of dollars to restore
riparian corridors, install wetlands, and create wildlife hab-
itats along Nine Mile Run, a highly degraded stream in the
area.
Seattle, Washington:
Reducing the volume of storm runoff in
some areas by as much as 80 percent by installing stepped,
vegetated areas. The city also has adopted the Street Edge
Alternative (SEA) design, which adds vegetated swales to
reduce total potential surface runoff.
Portland, Oregon:
Vegetated curb areas along roads help
decrease storm water runoff here, too. The city also is a
leader in downspout disconnection as a way to reduce storm
water runoff in sewers. The city pays homeowners $53 for
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