Rain Garden
What is a Rain Garden?
A rain garden is a sunken area in the landscape that collects rainwater runoff from roofs, driveways and streets and allows it to soak into the ground. It acts like a giant sponge and is planted with grasses and flowering perennials.
What Are the Benefits of a Rain Garden?
- They are Natural Filters – The rain garden catches stormwater carrying sediment, motor oil, road salt and other pollutants before it reaches the stream.
- They Slow the Flow – Heavy rain fall can create a lot of fast moving stormwater. Rain gardens catch stormwater runoff. This allows the water to soak into the ground and not rush into a nearby stream to cause downstream flooding.
- They Create Green Space – Rain gardens can be planted with beautiful, PA native grasses, flowers, and shrubs. They make an interesting landscape feature that can also provide habitat for pollinating birds and insects.
- They Protect Aquatic Life – Blair County is blessed with wonderful fishing streams. Many of the fish living in our streams need cold water. Hot roadways and roofs can make summer-time stormwater very warm. Rain gardens trap and cool this water before it reaches the stream.
Fun Facts
- A rain garden is not a pond or wetland. If built correctly, they will drain within 12-36 hours.
-
Rain gardens can remove about 80-90% of pollutants and sediment from the rainwater runoff.
%
The US EPA estimates that pollutants carried by rainwater runoff account for 70% of all water pollution.
%