Philadelphia Celebrates Its First 'Green Block'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – West Philadelphia gets an environmental boost.
Philadelphia celebrated the first of the city's so-called "Green Blocks."
Carrie Rathman, executive director of Rebuilding Together Philadelphia, says her organization has partnered with the water department to install free storm water management features in homes in the 6000-6300 blocks of Spruce Street:
"This is important because our sewer systems are overburdened with runoff. We have so much concrete that every rain, tons of water flows into our sewer systems and then it gets dumped directly into our rivers. So if we can manage some of it, it won't overflow the sewers, so it will help keep all those waterways and watersheds cleaner."
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter says the green block program is just a small part of the city's environmental mission:
"This is about sustainability and these issues are not going away. This is not a fad."
Reported By Hadas Kuznits, KYW Newsradio
