U.S. EPA Stormwater
Educational Videos
Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down,
Spread It Out, Soak It In
Building Green: A Success Story
in Philadelphia
RiverSmart Homes: Getting Smart
about Runoff in Washington, DC
&ER&
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds
http://water.epa.gov/aboutow/owow/
What is LID (Low Impact Development)
Low Impact Development (LID), also known as Green
Infrastructure, helps mimic the natural way water moves
through an area before development by using design
techniques that infiltrate, evapotranspirate, and reuse
runoff close to its source. LID helps protect and restore
water quality. Using vegetated areas that capture runoff
also improves air quality, mitigates the effects of urban
heat islands, and reduces a community's overall carbon
footprint.
For more information, visit:
Low Impact Development
www.epa.gov/nps/lid
Green Infrastructure
www.epa.gov/greeninfrastructure
Watch the videos and download
them for free!
http://www.epa.gov/nps/lid/vldeo.html
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Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down,
Spread It Out, Soak It In
This 9-minute video by the U.S. EPAand the U.S. Botanic Garden
highlights green techniques such as rain gardens, green roofs and
rain barrels to help manage stormwater runoff. The film showcases
green techniques that are being used in urban areas to reduce the
effects of stormwater runoff on the quality of downstream receiving
waters. The techniques are innovative stormwater management
practices that manage urban stormwater runoff at its source, reduce
the volume of stormwater runoff, and capture harmful pollutants. Us-
ing vegetated areas to capture runoff improves air quality, mitigates
the effects of urban heat islands, and reduces a community's carbon
footprint. The video is also available with Spanish subtitles.
I
Building Green: A Success Story in
Philadelphia
In 2010, EPA's Office of Water produced this 11-minute video which
highlights innovative efforts by green builders in Philadelphia who
are helping protect and restore environmental quality and beautify
the city. By installing cisterns, green roofs, porous pavers, solar pan-
els, and Energy Star appliances, builders are capturing rainwater,
reducing stormwater runoff, and saving energy. The exciting news
is that the units are selling even in a depressed market, thanks to
many of the amenities, including the attractive green roofs, reduced
utility bills and proximity to public transit. The city is now offering
incentives to builders and developers like Onion Flats to use green
echniques to help meet clean water and other environmental goals.
RiverSmart Homes: Getting Smart about
Runoff in Washington, DC
This 12-minute video produced in 2010 highlights RiverSmart
Homes, a program that was launched in 2006 by the District
Department of the Environment as a way to combat Washington,
DC's serious stormwater problems and to actively involve the com-
munity. Residential properties are the single largest land use in the
nation's capital, and the program actively engages the community
in restoring the rivers. Thanks to this unique urban waters project,
homeowners in diverse city neighborhoods are enthusiastically
adopting environmentally friendly landscaping practices to reduce
the effects of stormwater runoff and help bring back the Anacostia
and Potomac Rivers, as well as lesser known Rock Creek and
Oxon Run.
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