Phantomwarrior
July 3rd, 2009, 1:42 PM
When it rains where does the water go? It lands on roof tops, driveways and streets picking up all kinds of pollution with it. What can we do and what can our cities do to help remove these pollutants from the water before it enters our ground water supply? The fresh rain water and even it in many cases may start from the heavens fresh and pick up pollution as it travel through our dirty air. But that rain water picks up chemicals, oil, garbage and many forms of bacteria along the way. All of this new water and really it isn't new because none of our water ever leaves the planet, but its new to us that day when it rains finds its way to storm drains. These storm drains either carry the water to the Ocean, lakes, rivers or ponds built to hold the rain water and help flood control. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that pollutants in
rainwater runoff account for 70% of all water pollution.
Building what is called rain gardens can help clean the water before it enters the underground water supply. What are rain gardens? Rain gardens are gardens with all kinds of plants in them, such as native shrubs, perennials, and flowers and these gardens are built in a area where the ground has a small depression in it to hold water. This water then feeds the plants. Cities that build holding ponds should be building gardens of plants along with them to use that water after the rain to water these plants. Where you have enough room on your property you can help by stopping much of the runoff and letting that water flow into the water garden.
Studies show that rain gardens are effective in removing up to 90% of nutrients and chemicals, and up to 80% of sediments from rainwater runoff. This is nature's way of filtering our water.
rainwater runoff account for 70% of all water pollution.
Building what is called rain gardens can help clean the water before it enters the underground water supply. What are rain gardens? Rain gardens are gardens with all kinds of plants in them, such as native shrubs, perennials, and flowers and these gardens are built in a area where the ground has a small depression in it to hold water. This water then feeds the plants. Cities that build holding ponds should be building gardens of plants along with them to use that water after the rain to water these plants. Where you have enough room on your property you can help by stopping much of the runoff and letting that water flow into the water garden.
Studies show that rain gardens are effective in removing up to 90% of nutrients and chemicals, and up to 80% of sediments from rainwater runoff. This is nature's way of filtering our water.