State Capitol Becomes A Classroom For Clean Water

Governor Rell has launched a clean water project at the state capitol designed to demonstrate ways to keep storm water from polluting rivers. WNPR’s Nancy Cohen reports.

When it rains, the water flows over paved streets, carrying along contaminants that end up in rivers, streams and Long Island Sound. But there are ways to handle this “storm water runoff”.  The state is constructing several demonstration projects on the Capitol grounds to show the public some of these techniques. They include a cistern on the roof of the Capitol to collect rain water which will be used to water gardens. And several kinds of permeable pavement that allow storm water to flow through. MaryAnn Nusom Haverstock from the Department of Environmental Protection says when the storm water hits these new surfaces the rain filters down to the earth.

“We’re reducing potential local flooding issues that may be happening and we’re also looking to reduce pollutant loads being directed straight to our rivers and streams.”  

There will also be a green roof growing native plants. But the one at the Capitol will be on a basement roof so the public can see it more easily. The Green Capitols project which costs $1.1 million and is paid for by the Clean Water Fund, is expected to be finished sometime in the fall.

For WNPR, I’m Nancy Cohen.