Anacostia Watershed Society Headquarters

The primary goal of the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) Headquarters project was to demonstrate the flow, harvest, and management of stormwater runoff while providing a practical and aesthetic example of sustainable stormwater management to the local community. The AWS Headquarters are located at the historic George Washington House (circa 1752). Years of adjacent road realignments that raised the surrounding grades had created poor drainage patterns throughout the site. With the help of volunteers, interns, staff and local business donations, AWS was able to install permeable paving, a rainwater cistern, brick and dry stream channels, and rain gardens. The project demonstrates how sustainable stormwater management can be successfully incorporated within historic sites challenged with a limited budget and very restrictive site constraints. photographs courtesy: Anacostia Watershed Society