Rain Barrels and Rain Gardens

Green infrastructure can include capturing stormwater where you live, in simple structures around your home, such as rain barrels, rain gardens, green roofs, porous pavements, infiltration planters, and tree boxes. You can personally contribute to alleviating run off and help increase the amount of precipitation that infiltrates the soil and goes back into the ground.

Making or purchasing rain barrels is a quick and easy process that can help decrease the run off associated with your home and also provide a water source for watering your gardens, lawns (if you must), or even to flush your toilets. By placing a rain barrel at the end of your downspouts, water collection becomes quick and simple.

Resources

• Chagrin River Watershed Partners Rain Barrel Page
• The Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District rain garden manual