Stormwater Management for Homeowners. Where does water go?

Stormwater Management Stormwater Management for Homeownersfor Homeowners

Where does water go?Where does water go?

Water infiltrationWater infiltration

What’s in a watershed?What’s in a watershed?

Many watersheds now…Many watersheds now…

North Carolina is rainy!North Carolina is rainy!

Surface Runoff

Surface RunoffSurface Runoff

Surface runoffSurface runoff

Picks up pollutantsPicks up pollutants Often flows right into Often flows right into

streamsstreams Increases flooding and Increases flooding and

erosionerosion

Common runoff pollutantsCommon runoff pollutants

Common runoff pollutantsCommon runoff pollutants

Common runoff pollutantsCommon runoff pollutants

Effects of Water PollutionEffects of Water Pollution

Effects of Water PollutionEffects of Water Pollution

Photo courtesy of NRCS

In NC, approximately In NC, approximately 5000 stream miles5000 stream miles (16%) are impaired by sediment, pathogens, (16%) are impaired by sediment, pathogens, low DO, nutrients, & habitat degradationlow DO, nutrients, & habitat degradation

What can you do?What can you do?

Slow water en route Slow water en route to streams to to streams to reduce floodingreduce flooding

Clean water en Clean water en route to streams to route to streams to reduce pollutionreduce pollution

But how?

With a rain garden!With a rain garden!

Create and plant a Create and plant a shallow depressionshallow depression

Restore infiltrationRestore infiltration

BioretentionBioretention

NCSU-led Study in Greensboro

2002-2004

Annual Pollutant LoadingsAnnual Pollutant Loadings

0.460.01

3.68

0.020

0.51

1.52

2.53

3.54

Mass (Kg)

Zn Cu

InOut

Greensboro Cell G2Greensboro Cell G2

Chapel Hill Cell, C1Chapel Hill Cell, C1

NCSU-led StudyNCSU-led Study

2002-20032002-2003

Annual Pollutant LoadingsAnnual Pollutant Loadings

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

Mass (Kg)

TN NO3-N TKN TP

InOut

Chapel Hill Cell C1Chapel Hill Cell C1

Soil StabilizationSoil Stabilization

Cover disturbed Cover disturbed soil to reduce soil to reduce erosionerosion

Turf MatsTurf Mats

Permeable PavementPermeable Pavement Allows for rainfall Allows for rainfall

infiltrationinfiltration

Low traffic surfaces Low traffic surfaces (driveways, parking (driveways, parking lots, walk ways)lots, walk ways)

Used along coastal Used along coastal regions in areas of regions in areas of sandy soilsandy soil

Rainwater HarvestingRainwater Harvesting

Rain garden principlesRain garden principles

Place between stormwater source and destination Place between stormwater source and destination (between house and stream, low spots in yard, or street)(between house and stream, low spots in yard, or street)

Soil and plants filter pollutant from waterSoil and plants filter pollutant from water Infiltration slows water to decrease floodingInfiltration slows water to decrease flooding

Rain garden benefitsRain garden benefits

Restore infiltrationRestore infiltration

Provide wildlife Provide wildlife habitathabitat

Add beauty (and Add beauty (and value) to your value) to your propertyproperty