MOUND, Minn. — Stormwater drains are getting extra work this year, and with more rain in the forecast this week, it’s an issue that’s certainly coming to the forefront. So how can we reduce stormwater runoff? And why is it a concern?
Functional foliage adorns Julie Weisenhorn’s home, but it didn’t always look that way.
“Before this project, the house and the garage were not connected. And we had asphalt over this entire area and between the two buildings,” she said, standing in her driveway.
Connecting the house and garage was the perfect time for them to look for a solution to their drainage problem.
“We built a rain garden to capture and hold (water) so it can seep in and percolate,” said Weisenhorn, a horticulture professor at the University of Minnesota.
It starts with downspouts in a pair of rain barrels. When the barrels overflow, they empty into underground pipes. The pipes lead to the rain garden where plants like to soak up the water and a specific type of soil allows it to seep into the ground. Between the barrels and the garden, about 400 gallons can be held. The water stays on her property and away from her neighbor, Lake Minnetonka.
“We can all play a role in stormwater management,” said Ryan Anderson, manager of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s stormwater program.
But what is the biggest problem with rainwater drainage?
“In many watersheds, stormwater can be one of the largest pollutants to our lakes, rivers and streams,” Anderson said.
Rainwater carries nutrients such as phosphorus into drains, leading to lakes and streams that degrade water quality. They can also cause algae blooms.
“The volume of rainwater itself – the large rainfall events, the intense rainfall events that we’ve seen – can pose a challenge to the infrastructure that transports that rainwater,” he added.
It is critical to manage drainage around paved surfaces (hard surfaces that prevent water from draining into the ground).
Commercial properties with parking lots must comply with state regulations and guidelines, as must construction zones that often require clearing of vegetation.
How can we reduce drainage at home? There are a handful of options, some of which may be free.
“If you have gutters and downspouts, make sure the water is directed to your lawn, into a vegetated area, and not directly onto a driveway or curb,” Anderson says.
When mowing the lawn or raking leaves, be careful not to throw them on the street or along the curb so they don’t end up in the drain.
Rain barrels are another solid option. Many municipalities or watersheds have rain barrel programs that help homeowners get them at a discount or apply for credits for owning a barrel. And if you have the time and resources, build a rain garden. In addition to the garden outside her home, Weisenhorn took WCCO to another home in Mound that had recently had a rain garden built.
“The water was flowing out of the street and into the lake,” she said as she stood along the path where rainwater flowed between two backyards.
Volunteers, grants and careful planning by the Harrison’s Bay Association helped create the rain garden a few months ago, just in time for our rainy summer.
“Our goal is to educate people about good landscaping for water quality,” Weisenhorn said of the Harrison’s Bay Association. “And a rain garden is a great way to do that.”
For more information on how to build a rainwater garden and the types of plants to use, click here. For more information on rain barrels, click here.
