Did you know that the City of Campbell’s Hacienda Avenue, from Winchester Boulevard to Burrows Road, is a Green Street?
What is a Green Street? Green Streets clean polluted water before it drains to the Bay. When it rains, stormwater flows off sidewalks and streets, picking up pollutants such as motor oil, heavy metals, pesticides, and trash. This dirty water flows untreated into storm drains and creeks and ultimately, into the San Francisco Bay. Green Streets collect stormwater in basins like the one in the photo, which contain special soil and plants that absorb pollutants. These features clean the water by breaking down and filtering the pollutants before the water returns to the storm drain system or soaks into the native soils to replenish groundwater.
Beyond cleaning water, Green Streets also beautify neighborhoods, provide bird and butterfly habitats, reduce localized flooding, and create streets that are safe for everyone. Learn more about the Hacienda Avenue Green Street Project.