Engineering: Stormwater: Your Property

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.

The City of River Falls will conduct a free storm water audit of your property if you request it.  A City employee will visit your property and suggest practices, such as the ones below, that could be installed at your home or business to reduce storm water runoff.  For more information contact Kristy Treichel at ktreichel@rfcity.org or 715-426-3412.

#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 imes 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 (downspout to driveway)    Better (downspout to grass)

#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.







photo credits:
1 Photo courtesy of the City of Superior
2,3 Photos courtesy of the Center for Watershed Protection