The five practices described here treat storm water on
your property before it enters the street system and also after it
reaches the street but before it reaches a storm water drain on the
street. Once storm water reaches a street's storm water drain the
opportunity to improve its quality is lost because it flows directly
into the Kinni without any treatment. Therefore, treating storm
water as close to its source as possible reduces treatment cost and
improves the effectiveness of the practices.
Note: These practices are the most common practices used, but not the
only practices that could be effective.
#1 Rain Barrels
Rain barrels are attached to downspouts which collect
storm water running off your roof. An overflow system allows excess
water to be directed elsewhere. The rainwater collected in the
barrel can be used for watering your plants or garden during dry times
of the year and even to wash your car.
See the
City's
Rain Barrel Program page for more information.
#2 Roof Gutters and Downspout Disconnects
Roof gutters and downspout disconnects re-direct roof
downspouts onto your yard where it can soak into the soil rather than
onto an impervious driveway or sidewalk which likely directs the
rainwater into the street. This "disconnects" or stops the flow of
storm water from one impervious surface to another. This keeps you
roof's storm water from entering into the street system where it would
drain to the Kinni.
BAD
BETTER
#3 Rain Gardens
Rain gardens are shallow depressions, planted with
different types of flowers, grasses or shrubs, that collect storm water
and allow it to soak into the ground. They can be located in
various places on a property to treat different sources of storm water.
They can be placed at the end of a roof downspout to collect roof water,
at the downhill end of a sloping yard, or in a boulevard with a cut-away
section of street curb to allow water running down the street to flow
into the rain garden.
#4 Infiltration Swales
Infiltration swales are depressions that consist of an
underground system of rock and gravel allowing storm water to soak into
the ground. They are typically designed for use in boulevards.
Their design makes them effective at treating a great deal of storm
water.
#5 Pervious Pavers
Pervious pavers are interlocking paving stones with a
hole where they join each other that allows storm water to flow through
the pavers into a layer of gravel and then into the soil below it.
These have been used on parking lots, sidewalks, and driveways.
