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Water
Other resources
Portland is endowed with beautiful rivers and pristine drinking water. The urban environment, however, takes its toll on these precious natural resources. Excess water consumption, especially in the summer, drains our water reserves. Paved surfaces prevent rainwater from recharging local aquifers. And in the winter stormwater washes surface pollutants like lawn chemicals, motor oil and cigarette butts into rivers and streams.
By cutting water use and reducing stormwater runoff, businesses can help preserve Portland’s valuable water resources.
Conservation
The BEST Business Center can help you evaluate your business for opportunities to conserve water and reduce your water and sewer fees. Contact us for more information.
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Water Bureau: Commercial Water Conservation
Portland’s business, industry and government customers who have enacted water conservation measures have seen very high returns on their investment. Most pay for their investment in less than a year from the savings on utility bills. They continue to reap these savings year after year with very little additional ongoing cost once the investment is made. The Conservation Assistance Line can help determine how businesses might be able to cut water, sewer, energy, and chemical costs by implementing water conservation projects.
Stormwater Management
From creating a site plan for a new building to considering changes to your current landscaping, the BEST Business Center can help find ways to improve stormwater management on your property. Contact us for more information.
The following resources also provide important information on this topic.
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Bureau of Environmental Services: Sustainable Stormwater
Integrating stormwater management into building and site design can reduce the damaging effects of uncontrolled runoff, including flooding, erosion and pollution of rivers and streams. Directing your runoff to natural systems like landscaped planters, bioswales, rain gardens, rain barrels or an eco-roof reduces and filters stormwater runoff. Businesses can find partners and apply for grants up to $10,000.
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East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District
East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District is a unit of local government serving the residents and landowners of Multnomah County lying east of the Willamette River by providing conservation education, technical, and financial assistance to private land and home owners, governments, and non-profit organizations.
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Office of Sustainable Development: Stormwater Management
As the City continues to grow, impervious surfaces continue to increase, creating less space for rainwater to infiltrate back into the ground. Using sustainable stormwater strategies can limit the amount of rainwater entering the sewer system and preserve this valuable natural resource for use in irrigation, flushing toilets and even as potable water.
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Oregon Environmental Council: Stormwater Solutions
Cities in Oregon and throughout the U.S. were engineered to keep stormwater out of sight and out of mind. Unfortunately, that approach has created its own problems and turned a potential resource into a waste product. Find out what can be done by reviewing some of the 60 recommendations, solutions, and potential funding sources in Oregon Environmental Council’s free online publication, Stormwater Solutions: Turning Oregon’s Rain Back into a Resource.
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West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District
West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District is a state-designated special district. Its mission is to conserve, protect and develop soil and water resources and to help with the development of all natural resources in west county for the benefit of the people, wildlife and the environment.
BEST Business Center staff are reliable, smart and friendly. I learned a lot and they provided great ideas for future business planning.
Heather Baron, Veterinary Assistant
Cat Hospital of Portland
Our sustainability reports were customized for the Paramount Hotel. The resulting commitment and assistance holds us accountable for our actions. I will recommend this program to colleagues.
Norman Hwa, General Manager
Paramount Hotel
Portland is the first City in the country to create a Green Investment Fund (GIF), which is a five-year, $2.5 million grant-based fund given to commercial, industrial or residential projects demonstrating innovative green technologies and practices.