Washington Canal Park's linear rain garden, which covers the eastern portion of the park, hearkens back to the historic canal. Like the old canal, it collects stormwater. But there the comparison ends. Today's rain garden uses the latest technology to allow the park to deal with the difficulties of city rainwater and help sustain our environment by filtering stormwater runoff.
Before the city developed roads, buildings, and sidewalks, rain would soak into the ground. There plant roots would take up the water they needed to thrive. Modern urbanization, however, paved over and covered the ground with impermeable surfaces and removed vegetation. As a result, heavy rains can overwhelm the city's combined sewers causing sewage and other pollutants to overflow into our rivers.
Here at the park, under the plantings, pavilions, and walkways, lies a network of storm drain pipes, storage tanks, pumps and filtering systems. Using these techniques, Canal Park directs stormwater away from combined sewers, and reduces urban pollution to the Anacostia River. The park not only takes care of stormwater from its own boundary, but also collects, filters and reuses stormwater from adjacent properties. Most of the stored water is used for irrigating the park. The water is also used for the fountains, the ice rink and for toilet
flushing. In this way, the amount of stormwater and pollutants that end up in the sewer system — and our rivers — is minimized.
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