Besides roof top gardens there are other great ways to limit the storm water runoff.
Rain gardens are one of the most versatile and effective ways to manage storm water runoff.
Instead of running the water to a sewage drain the water will flow directly into the garden.
In order to have a proper rain garden you must first devise a water collection system.
A water collection system essentially funnels all the water that runs off of rooftops and other hard surfaces to one specific area.
In that area is a shallowly depressed plot of land with a two foot deep hole in the middle.
Around that depressed plot of land appropriate plants are placed depending on how resistant they can be to water.
It is good to use native plants and hardy cultivars for the rain garden in order to soak up as much of the water as possible.
The location of the garden is essential as it is important to build the rain garden at the lowest possible area on your property.
Also it is important to use special mixes of soil to allow the water to soak in rapidly at the same time supporting healthy plant growth.
The garden works as a filter for oil, grease, pesticides, and fertilizer from lawns before they are able to reach the storm drain and eventually the different streams, lakes, wetlands, and other marine waters.
The increase in the amount of water that soaks into the ground is able to recharge local groundwater.
The gardens for rain are especially useful in residential areas where the residents have adequate space to properly build rain gardens.
This does not mean rain gardens in the cities are not possible but rather there is less undeveloped land available for such things.
Depending on how creative Seattle University is they could definitely implement rain gardens to drain the water fun off from all the different buildings into.
One of the hidden benefits of creating a rain water collection system is that it qualifies you for a twenty percent reduction to your water bill.