RAIN
Did you know that when it rains, runoff from your property flows into the storm sewer and goes directly into the closest lake, river or stream? Did you know that contaminants accumulated in the runoff account for a large portion of pollution in our local waterways? Nonpoint source pollution is causing serious harm to bodies of water such as the Cataraqui River and Lake Ontario.
Hearthmakers is pleased to act as a representative for RAIN: an ecological approach to storm water management. RAIN is an educational program designed to teach community members what they can do individually to help reduce pollution from runoff. Read below to learn some of Rain’s important messages and then visit the official RAIN website: www.slowrain.ca to learn more!
As part of this program, Hearthmakers will be hosting four hands-on workshops on storm water topics as well as building a community rain garden! Workshops will cover topics like building your own rain barrel or rain garden and composting pet waste. Dates and times for workshops located here! However, work on our rain garden is underway and we need your help! If you'd like to make a donation of plant material, tools, volunteer hours or make a financial contribution, click the button below! Any donations will be acknowledged on our website, blog, and social networking sites.
RAIN has three main messages:
Capturing storm water and releasing it more slowly can help prevent pollutants from entering the storm sewers. Combined sewers are an older type of sewage system, combining sanitary sewers and run off sewers into one system. During a heavy rainfall, the runoff flowing into the combined sewers is often too much for these outmoded sewers to handle, which results in bypasses or combined sewer overflows (CSO). A CSO involves dumping the excess untreated sewage and runoff directly into a lake or river. Luckily, in Kingston, our infrastructure has been updated so that these bypasses happen less and less. However, help with storm water management from local homeowners (by conserving water and using rain barrels, for example) is always welcome and useful!
What can you do?
Install a rain barrel! They’re easy to install and easy to use, just make sure you empty it after each rain fall.
Plant some trees! They help catch rain fall in their foliage
Conserve water! Use water efficient appliances and fixtures (like low-flush toilets!) in your home. Use less water by turning off the tap while brushing your teeth and fill up the sink while doing the dishes, instead of running the tap constantly.
By increasing the unpaved surfaces of your property, you're allowing stormwater to permeate back into the water table. The natural path of stormwater runoff begins to be negatively affected if only 20% of your property is impermeable, or paved. Imagine how lakes and rivers are affected near large cities where the paved/impermeable surfaces cover between 75% -100%!
What can you do?
Plant a rain garden! Rain gardens are special gardens filled with water – loving native plants. Plant one in a depression near your downspout and help soak up some runoff!
Use permeable paving materials! When resurfacing your driveway or building a new patio, use permeable paving materials like interlock or a porous paver. These materials allow water to seep back into the ground and infiltrate the water table, instead of flowing over the surface into the storm drains.
By working on the first two messages, you're doing your best to reduce the amount of runoff and slow down the rest. However, contaminated runoff is still a big issue! Remember: any runoff leaving your property goes into the storm drain and directly into the nearest water course.
What can you do?
There are lots of things you can do to keep storm runoff as clean as possible. Here are just a few:
Pick up after your dog; compost or bury the waste! Pet waste is responsible for most beach closures!
Wash your car at a commercial car wash! Washing your car in the driveway allows cleaning products, gasoline and engine oil to flow directly into the storm sewer!
Put your driveway on a low-salt diet! Salt is harmful to our waterways and plant life
Use natural cleaning and personal products! Anything going down a drain pipe can end up in lakes and rivers, especially in a place like Kingston which uses combined sewers.
Find out more about these action items at RAIN’s official website:
