Green Streets Program Reduces Stormwater Runoff
In Portland, Oregon, drivers are seeing more stormwater management features popping up, although many might not recognize them for what they really are.
More attractive than the familiar curb and stormwater inlet method of controlling stormwater runoff from roads, the landscaped islands, porous pavement, and curb extensions along Portland's streets also serve as stormwater collection and filtration features. Portland is in the midst of a tremendous push to capture, store, and infiltrate as much stormwater as possible on-site. By doing so, Portland hopes to help reduce the amount of stormwater entering the sewer system, prevent sewer backups in basements, and eliminate up to 94 percent of combined sewer overflows into local waterways.
