The Cool Down
Expert shares video of clever solution for stormwater issue: 'Happy to see'
One expert gardener shares a clever hack to manage stormwater and improve your yard and local community.
13
287
22
5k
Local Expert Reveals Simple Garden Hack to Combat Stormwater Runoff
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL – A local garden coach, known as Powers_Plants, is championing innovative residential stormwater management techniques, urging homeowners to reconsider how rainwater runoff impacts local ecosystems and municipal infrastructure. In a recent online video, the expert demonstrated how simple landscaping adjustments can significantly mitigate the challenges posed by heavy rainfall. The initiative highlights a proactive approach to environmental stewardship at the individual property level, emphasizing the power of natural solutions. "During a big rain, rainwater gushing down streets and into drains often overwhelms our stormwater management systems," explained Powers_Plants, standing under an umbrella as rain poured. "Fast-running water just rushes over the surface; it doesn't actually seep deeply down into the soil where we want it. A lot of this groundwater is going to end up in our creeks and rivers and streams and lakes, and some of that's our drinking water." She stressed the importance of filtering this water before it enters the broader system. The video vividly illustrates a practical solution: redirecting downspouts from impervious surfaces, such as concrete driveways, into permeable perennial garden beds. "You can see how fast the water is rushing over this concrete, hard, non-permeable surface," she noted, contrasting it with her solution. "Where it should be going is in this bed, where the plants and the roots of the plants are going to slow that rush of water down, give it time to seep into the soil, and also filter it." She showcased her own modified downspout, now directing water into a lush garden. The coach confirmed that even excess water reaching the sidewalk does so at a significantly slower pace, having undergone natural filtration by the plants and soil. This simple yet effective method not only protects local water quality but also reduces the risk of localized flooding and erosion.
