Capturing rainwater and preventing runoff

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Permeable pavers let rain flow straight into the underlying soil

Bioinfiltration (rain garden) in a residential development. Photo courtesy of Katherine Sullivan.

When it rains, water can’t soak into impervious surfaces like rooftops, driveways, and roads. Instead, it runs off into streets and storm sewers creating stormwater. From our streets to our streams, stormwater picks up nutrients, dirt, salt, fertilizers, pesticides, oil, bacteria, and garbage. These pollutants can be transported to lakes and rivers.

Reducing runoff is critical to minimizing the impact our yards and gardens have on the surrounding lakes and streams. There are many ways to encourage rainwater to soak into the ground. Or you can capture rainwater for use in your yard. Either way, stormwater is reduced and our lakes and rivers stay clean.

When you are planning changes to your house or lot, think about reducing the size of hard surfaces. For areas where hard surfaces are necessary, consider permeable pavement that lets water through. There are now a variety of permeable pavements on the market that are specifically designed to increase infiltration into the ground. Ask your contractor or home and garden supply store for water-friendly pavers, or porous pavement or asphalt.

Rain gardens and native plants: Beautiful solutions to water pollution

A rain garden, also called a bioretention practice, is a popular landscaping choice that prevents water pollution by allowing stormwater to soak into the ground before it runs off. Rain gardens and native plants also

• prevent erosion by holding soil in place with their deep roots,
• attract birds and butterflies, and
• require little watering and maintenance once established.

Rain gardens are concave gardens that collect runoff from downspouts or driveways. Plants that tolerate "wet feet" should be planted in the bottom, while plants that need less water are planted on the edges.

• For information about rain gardens, check out the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources or the city of Maplewood websites.
• They take a little work to install, but a do-it-yourselfer can do it. Check out the process from start to finish in a short video by Metro Blooms.
• The Blue Thumb Guide to Raingardens leads home owners through the steps of designing and installing rain gardens in their yards. Blue Thumb also has a Plant Selector Tool. Simply enter in the conditions of your yard—shady or sunny, wet or dry—and the tool will create a list of native plants that will grow well in those conditions.
• Attend a Metro Blooms raingarden workshop.

Rain barrels

Rain barrel

Another way to reduce runoff is to capture some of it with rain barrels. Rain barrels also help conserve water. They can be fancy or simple, but the basic structure is to have a barrel at the end of a downspout. The barrel has a spigot or hose that you can use to water your garden or yard. Several home improvement stores now sell rain barrels.

In Minnesota, rain barrels will need to be disconnected during winter so that they don't freeze and crack. To winterize your rain barrel,

1. disconnect the downspout from the rain barrel and re-connect a downspout extension to the main downspout to funnel water away from the foundation of the house,
2. empty the rain barrel, and
3. flip the rain barrel upside-down and store it outside, or, if you have room, move the rain barrel into a garage or basement.

Green roofs

Minneapolis Central Library 2nd floor south facing green roof, Minneapolis, MN. Image Courtesy of The Kestrel Design Group, Inc.

Another way to reduce runoff and the amount of impervious surfaces on your property is with a green roof. A green, or vegetated, roof usually contains a liner, insulation, drainage system, planting medium, and drought-tolerant, low-maintenance plants. Green roofs can reduce the costs associated with roof replacement, energy, stormwater management, the effect of the urban heat island, and improve air quality.

Check out this video on Basics of Rainwater Harvesting for Residential Use. Also check out the Minnesota Green Roofs Council for additional green roof resources.