Stormwater runoff that drains from our homes, lawns, roads, ditches, and parking lots goes directly from storm drains into our streams, like Euclid Creek and Nine Mile, and eventually to Lake Erie untreated. Stormwater can carry with it dirt and pollution like litter, debris, and oils. Rooftops, driveways, sidewalks, and other hard surfaces are impermeable, meaning that they don’t allow this water to soak through. Excess stormwater from impermeable surfaces not only carries harmful pollutants but can also lead to localized flooding issues and overwhelm stormwater sewer systems. You can help manage stormwater on your property by installing a rain barrel or rain garden. Rain barrels and rain garden both work to capture water from impermeable surfaces, reducing the amount of runoff that ends up in our streams and Lake Erie.

A rain barrel is connected to a downspout where it collects stormwater runoff from a roof. The barrel stores the water for later use. You can use stormwater collected from a rain barrel to water your landscaping and non-edible plants. A standard rain barrel can hold 50 gallons of stormwater.

A rain garden is a shallow, saucer-shaped garden that works with nature to collect and filter stormwater that runs off impermeable surfaces. They are filled with amended soil and native, wet-tolerant plant species whose roots work with the soil to slow down and filter stormwater runoff. Rain gardens can also help address localized flooding issues, create important habitat for native pollinating wildlife, and make a beautiful addition to your landscaping.