Parish project aims to divert rainwater from sewers to vegetation

Published: 2003-11-05

PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) -- After digging, shaping earth and planting local vegetation, volunteers at St. Philip Neri Parish in Portland put finishing touches on an area called a "bioswale" next to the parish parking lot. A bioswale is a natural vegetation water collection system created in a depressed area. It is used to divert the rainwater that comes off building roofs and the parking lot and keep it away from the storm sewers. The water is filtered through soil at the bottom of the bioswale, keeping pollutants out of local waterways. The project is part of Portland's 20-year program to improve the city's sewer system. Volunteers -- including parishioners, neighbors and staff members from the city's Bureau of Environmental Services -- planted vegetation native to the area in the bioswale. As soon as the plants mature, the parish will disconnect its downspouts from the city's overextended sewers and let the bioswale take care of filtering the rainwater, said Paulist Father Steve Bossi, pastor of St. Philip Neri.

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