TIP 5: YOUR RUNOFF

As your stormwater runoff leaves your property, it collects pollutants including trash, oil, pesticides, fertilizers, and more. Those pollutants may then end up in nearby lakes, rivers, and streams where people swim, fish, play and draw drinking water, or in local sewer systems where more problems can arise.

Runoff Icon

HOW THIS IMPACTS OUR REGION.

The Southern Tier has its share of rain and snow. As a result, runoff can easily become contaminated by waste, toxins, and other pollutants. These harmful substances befoul local water bodies, threaten the environment, and impact the health of our community.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Install a Green Infrastructure system in your home.

What is Green Infrastructure and what does it do?

Green Infrastructure practices help control stormwater at its source, remove pollutants, and reduce the amount of runoff and waste that ends up in sewer systems and local waterbodies. It reduces and treats stormwater at its source while delivering environmental, social, and economic benefits. These runoff water practices are designed to mimic how nature soaks up and stores water.

The term green infrastructure (GI) describes a variety of site design techniques and structural practices used by communities, businesses, homeowners and others for managing stormwater. On a larger scale, green infrastructure includes preserving and restoring natural landscape features (such as forests, floodplains and wetlands), and reducing the amount of land covered by impervious surfaces. On a smaller scale, GI practices include green roofs, pervious pavement, rain gardens, vegetated swales, planters and stream buffers.

THE BENEFITS OF CREATING A GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IN YOUR HOME:

  • Save on your water bill by using your runoff water to water your yard and garden.
  • PROTECT OUR LOCAL BODIES OF WATER AND COMMUNITY WELLNESS by reusing this water rather than allowing it to collect pollutants and have it dump into our rivers where it may impact the quality of our communities water, rivers, and overall habitat.
  • ENHANCE THE LOOK OF YOUR GARDEN by creating Rain Gardens or selecting your charming Rain Barrel system to beautify your outdoor experience
  • IMPROVE OUR ENVIRONMENT for when you save and reuse your runoff water, you will contribute to cleaner air, energy savings, urban cooling, and climate change mitigation

CHOOSE a Green Infrastructure System that is right for you.

You can DYI or hire a professional to give you a quote. You can select from:

Storm / Rain Garden

A rain garden is a garden composed of native shrubs, perennials, flowers, and other fauna. It is designed to temporarily hold and soak in rainwater runoff that flows from roofs, driveways, patios, and lawns. Rain gardens assist in filtering out harmful pollutants.

Rain Barrels

Rain barrels are connected to downspouts to capture the water flowing from a roof, to reduce the amount of stormwater during a rainstorm. The water that is collected can later be used for watering gardens, trees, and lawns, or for other outdoor uses such as washing cars and cleaning windows. In this way, rain barrels are a great tool for both conserving water and reducing the volume of stormwater runoff.

Disconnecting / Redirecting Downspouts

Downspouts are often directed onto a paved surface, such as a driveway, often sending water directly into the street when it rains. Disconnecting the downspout from a pipe or the paved area allows water to be redirected into a rain barrel, lawn, or garden, where it can soak into the ground. Redirecting downspouts to a landscaped area helps reduce rain runoff from a property and excessive water usage.

Use Permeable Materials

Utilizing permeable paving materials for exterior home projects such as driveways, walkways, and patios, is another way to reduce stormwater runoff. Especially for commercial businesses, it may be more cost effective to manage stormwater thru a permeable system versus storm drains, gutters, and detention ponds. A bonus for homeowners and businesses alike is that permeable paving materials do not allow for puddling as snow and ice melt. This can reduce salt usage by up to 80% and mitigate the likelihood of slipping.

We need your support!

Be aware of where the rain goes.

Storm Drain Marker

A storm drain marker.

Our water is a precious resource. And, clean water involves everyone.

Apply the tips above in your everyday life and keep an eye out for storm water drains throughout our area. Each drain is marked with the medallion you see pictured.

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