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Environmental Benefits in Seattle
- Stormwater Management: Rain gardens help to capture stormwater and prevent it from overwhelming Seattle’s combined sewer system, which can lead to pollution in local rivers, lakes, and Puget Sound.
- Groundwater Recharge: They allow water to soak into the ground, replenishing local groundwater supplies, which is especially important in a city where water conservation is critical.
- Pollution Filtration: Rain gardens filter out pollutants like oils, metals, and chemicals before the water enters local waterways, improving water quality.
- Reduction of Urban Heat Island Effect: The lush vegetation in rain gardens helps cool down urban areas by providing shade and moisture, which is important in mitigating the heat island effect in densely developed neighborhoods.