Seattle's strategy to 'Restore Our Waters' is founded on Green Stormwater Infrastructure
‘Restore Our Waters’
‘Restore Our Waters’ is the City of Seattle’s commitment to take actions and promote partnerships that protect and improve its creeks, lakes, the Duwamish River and Puget 
Sound. Seattle is promoting new and helpful alternatives to traditional stormwater management.
Green Stormwater Infrastructure is a new way of managing rainwater that supports the health and sustainability of the local environment by “slowing the flow” of stormwater into local water sources and away from harmful toxins or other pollutants.
In addition, Green Stormwater Infrastructure promotes a revitalized ground water system, further promoting a healthier Seattle.
To Learn More: Check out the latest Restore Our Waters e-news (pdf).
Green Strategies
Green strategies include the complete suite of actions that minimize impacts to the environment.
Green stormwater strategies include flow control and treatment facilities that use infiltration, evapotranspiration, or rainwater reuse. Examples of green infrastructure technologies include permeable pavement, bioretention facilities, and green roofs.
Broader green strategies include building design, construction techniques, land use limitations, and other actions that result in minimizing environmental impact.
Natural Drainage Systems
Seattle’s ‘natural drainage systems’ (NDS) are an innovative alternative to traditional stormwater management systems.
The pipes and ditches of traditional drainage systems carry runoff with traces of everyday contaminants such as oil, paint, fertilizer, and heavy metals directly into creeks, lakes, and Puget Sound.
The speed and volume of water coming out of pipes erodes stream channels. These problems decrease water quality, disrupt marine food chains, and negatively impact wildlife habitat.
Natural drainage systems limit the negative impacts of rainwater and stormwater runoff by redesigning residential streets to take advantage of plants, trees, and soils to clean runoff and manage rainwater flows.
Vegetated swales, stormwater cascades, and small wetland ponds allow soils to absorb water, slowing flows and filtering out many contaminants.
To Learn More: Click on Natural Drainage Systems
Posted August 2010