"If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water."
~Loran Eisely
Every time it rains, a host of bacteria, chemicals, fuels and heavy metals wash off our lawns, driveways, and streets, running straight into streams, rivers, and our beautiful Lake Superior via the storm sewer system. Our urban areas are covered with hard surfaces – buildings, streets, driveways, walkways, parking lots. This speeds up stormwater runoff, and leaves a legacy of poor water quality.
So what's the solution? Homeowners can take action on their own property to protect our local water quality from the impacts of runoff. Here are some measures for you to consider:
Slow it down
Capture and release rain more slowly (try a rain barrel.) This will reduce the volume entering the stormwater system.
Soak it up
Allow more rain to soak into the ground by installing rain gardens, green (living) roofs and increasing permeable areas.
Keep it clean
Avoid polluting activities (leaving pet waste, cigarette butts, spreading lawn fertilizer, de-icing salts, driveway sealing and carwashing).
Spring RAIN Workshops for 2012:
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McVicar Creek Stream Walk - Tuesday, May 22nd 7pm
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Build Your Own Pet Waste Digester - Tuesday, May 29th 6:30pm
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Create a Rain Garden - Saturday, June 2nd (rain date June 16th) 9am-12pm
- Build a Living Roof - Saturday, June 9th 9am-4pm
For more information about the RAIN program please visit slowrain.ca.
RAIN: an ecological approach to stormwater management is a Green Communities Canada program, delivered in Northwestern Ontario and the Lake Superior Basin by EcoSuperior. This program has received funding support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agent of the Province of Ontario.
Page last updated on Monday, April 16, 2012
