For more than 12 years, Tacoma has been studying how to clean up the Thea Foss Waterway of the pollutants, like arsenic and pesticides, that have been monitored. Now, local businesses are using rain gardens to beautify the city and reduce pollution in the Waterway at the same time.
A crucial part of the history of Tacoma, Washington, the Thea Foss Waterway has been home to an early sawmill, a deepwater port, and a thriving industrial center. As industry began to taper off in the area, however, the Waterway was close to abandoned. In 1983, the EPA listed both the Wheeler-Osgood and the Thea Foss Waterways as Superfund sites, indicating that they were badly contaminated with hazardous materials. Recent tests, however, are showing a decrease in 90% of the contaminants – and rain gardens are making the difference.
Rain gardens are planted depressions of natural soil and local plants in impervious urban areas, which allow water to be filtered and run back into the water table, instead of running off as storm water. This can help prevent water pollution, flooding, erosion, and diminished ground water.
In the city of Tacoma, there are 14 rain gardens, but the city itself sponsors only four. Businesses like Dorky’s Arcade, owned by Les Vorosbond, are making the difference. Maintaining a garden like this shows that a business is active in the community and cares about the environment, which can be listed in the company’s brochure printing to attract customers who are concerned about such issues.
