Collecting rainwater keeps it out to the sewers and waterways reducing flooding and flushing harmful chemicals into the waterways. You can help the environment, beautify your gardens, and save money by collecting rainwater.
- Rain Barrels
What is a rain barrel?
• A rain barrel is a container that collects and stores rainwater from your roof. This water can later be used for watering plants during dry periods.
Why use a rain barrel
• Capture rainwater from your roof and use it later when it’s dry outside to give thirsty gardens, flowers and trees a drink.
• Rain water is better for plants as it is untreated.
• Lowers volume of water flowing into city storm drains and ultimately water ways reducing flooding.
See how to install your own rain barrel:
- Rain Gardens
What is a Rain Garden?
• A rain garden is a natural vegetation garden built in a depression. Rainwater collects in that depression. Vegetation adapted to the extremes of moisture will grow in the rain garden.
• The garden will flood during a rain event but all water should infiltrate in 4 hours after 1” of rain. There is no ponding water in a rain garden.
Why build a Rain Garden?
• Lowers the amount of pollution ending up in creeks and streams by up to 30%.
• Native wildflowers, grasses and adapted plants are beautiful and can add variety to your backyard flower gardens.
• Lowers volume of water flowing into city storm drains and ultimately waterways. It also supports a habitat for birds and butterflies.
See how to create your own rain garden:
- Gutter Disconnecting
What is a gutter disconnecting?
• Some households have gutters with downspouts connected directly into the city sanitary drains. These connections cause clear water to drain to the sanitary sewer and may cause basement sewerage backups.
Why should I disconnect my gutters?
• Lowers volume of water flowing into the sanitary sewer helping reduce the risk of sewer overflows
• Prevents up to 12 gallons per minute of water during a heavy storm from entering the city’s sewer system
• Reduces the risk of releasing polluted rainwater into our local waterways.
- Porous pavers
What are porous pavers?
• Porous Pavers allow rain water to infiltrate into the pavement, rather than shed off the pavement into the storm sewer. The rainwater enters a stone grade under the pavement. In the event of a large amount of rain, the water will enter a pipe and will be delivered into the storm sewer system.
What are the benefits of porous pavers?
• Rainwater soaks into the ground, rather than enter the storm sewer system. This will help reduce flooding and pollution to our waterways.