Clean water solutions inspired by people and nature In an urban environment like Seattle, every storm washes pollution from rooftops, roads, and other hard surfaces into local waterways. What can we do? By examining how forests of the Northwest manage runoff from heavy rain, we’re learning how to design and build effective and environmentally-friendly systems within a city’s landscape that benefit human, marine, and aquatic health. Research in the last few decades suggests that mimicking nature is an intuitive, effective way to minimize overflows of our wastewater system and prevent toxins from getting into our creeks, rivers, lakes, and Puget Sound. We call these methods Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI). King County Wastewater Treatment Division and Seattle Public Utilities are working together to bring GSI to our neighborhoods and manage rainwater runoff naturally. Our goal is to process 700 million gallons (enough water to fill over one thousand Olympic-sized swimming pools) of runoff every year with these eco-friendly methods. UNDERSTAND THE GOAL What is Green Stormwater Infrastructure? Green stormwater infrastructure mimics nature to capture, slow down, and clean runoff from storms. Unlike pipes and treatment plants that collect and clean runoff after it travels for miles, GSI uses plants, trees, soil, and engineering to reduce rainwater pollution and overflows in our drainage and sewer systems. RainWise RainWise is a rebate program that helps eligible property owners manage rainwater by installing rain gardens and/or cisterns on private property. LEARN MORE Managing Neighborhood Runoff King County Wastewater Treatment Division and Seattle Public Utilities build and maintain large-scale projects in public areas that manage rainwater on streets, sidewalks and landscapes. LEARN MORE Community Partnerships King County and Seattle Public Utilities offer several grant and incentive programs for community partners to bring green solutions to parks, schools, community centers, and private spaces. LEARN MORE Utilities Managing Runoff Venema Creek in the Broadview neighborhood This project captures and infiltrates 70% of the runoff from 80 acres of roadway and impervious surfaces that originally flowed untreated into Venema Creek. View case study Big Roofs Young’s Restaurant Young’s Restaurant is the first restaurant in Seattle to install green stormwater infrastructure on their property – namely, three cisterns that control an average of 11,145 gallons of stormwater a year. View case study Advancing Public-Private Investments Fremont Bioswale Project Environmentally innovative developer Mark Grey joined forces with Salmon-Safe to convene a multiple organization partnership to treat runoff through rain gardens. View case study Learn about RainWise rebates Rebates are available through the RainWise program for property owners in select areas with combined storm and sewer pipes. Find out if you are eligible Solutions Interested in learning more about GSI methods? Whether you are new to green stormwater infrastructure or a seasoned expert, access the latest science, technologies, and other information to implement green stormwater infrastructure. Put GSI into action
