In my last post I talked about Rainwater Runoff and what it is. I also talked about some reasons as to why it can be bad for you and the environment. The less runoff we have, the better. Having said that, here are 5 ways you can reduce the amount of water running off of your property:

• Vegetation - Plant a lot of flowers, bushes, and other plant life. Plants naturally soak up water and help it penetrate into the ground. They can also help filter out contaminants contained in the water such as oil from your car. Plus, you have a wide variety of plants to choose from so the options are endless!

• Pervious Pavement – Pervious pavement allows water to pass right through it. This means that the water will penetrate through the pavement and into the ground instead of running off into the sewer system. You can use pervious pavement for your driveway, sidewalks, and patio. You can purchase specialized pervious pavements or you could just use regular pavers, which allow the water to pass in between them.

• Rain Barrels – Rain barrels are a unique way to not only reduce runoff, but also to save you money on your water bills. Rain barrels collect the water from your roof and store it in, well, a barrel. You can then use the water to water your yard and plants. You won’t be using any water from the spigot, which will save you money. You can either buy one or build one yourself.

• Rain Gardens – If you want a beautiful looking way to reduce runoff, then rain gardens are a great choice. Rain gardens are depressions in the ground filled with various types of plant life. They are usually placed near the source of the runoff. Rain gardens are able to store some of the water and allow it to infiltrate into the ground.

• Vegetated Filters – Vegetated filter areas are used to help clean up the runoff from any pollutants it may have. They are usually a trench filled with rocks and sometimes covered with either grass or other vegetation. They can be built under downspouts or along driveways.