STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AT HOME

What can I do to help?

Need a little background on stormwater? Watch this video!

Pollution entering our nearby water bodies via storm drains and impervious surfaces comes from many sources, and residential runoff is a significant contributor. Don't let stormwater be the bad guy - use the tips below to help minimize pollution at home and positively impact the ecosystems that surround you!

Reduce Fertilizer, Herbicide, & Pesticide Use

Fertilizers contain nutrients that, in excess, provide the perfect conditions for toxic cyanobacteria to bloom in water bodies. Cyanobacteria can be harmful to humans, pets, and can also cause eutrophication, leading to the death of aquatic plants and animals who rely on clean, oxygenated water to survive. Consider lawn alternatives such as native groundcover plants, which require less herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers than traditional lawns

Increase Pervious Cover in Your Yard

Pervious surfaces like gardens, plantings, or ground cover help water stay in your yard and off of the streets. You can also install permeable pavers in areas like driveways or walkways. Click HERE for more information about permeable pavers and how they function! Rain gardens are specifically designed to capture and filter rainwater that would otherwise run off. HERE is a resource from Rhode Island's Department of Environmental Management that contains lots of helpful information on rain gardens, as well as a guide on properly sizing them.

Avoid Invasives, Plant Natives!

Rhode Island is one of the few states that does not prohibit the commercial sale of invasive plants. Invasive plants spread and outcompete beneficial native plants. HERE is a guide from the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society about common invasives. Natives also provide food and habitat to wildlife, are lower-maintenance, and can be just as beautiful and eye-catching as common non-native ornamental plants. Check out this plant finder tool from the Native Plant Trust for plants that best suit your conditions.

Employ No-Till Methods in Your Garden

Add layers of organic matter and compost that decompose over time and allow beneficial microbes and fungi to support your plants.

Yard & Garden

Use Car Washes if Possible, or Wash on a Pervious Surface

Detergents are harmful to water bodies; car washes dispose of these materials properly.

Address Oil or Fluid Leaks

These run straight into a storm drain if they accumulate in your driveway!

Keep Your Driveway Clear

Grass clippings, leaves, and debris clog storm drains and pollute water with nutrients and fertilizers.

Car

Divert Your Downspout, or Connect It to a Rain Barrel

Prevent that water from flowing onto an impervious surface! Rain barrel assembly is easy, and rain can be used to water non-edible garden plants or natives. Below is a video from the Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District about how to build a rain barrel. To install one, you will also need what is called a "retrofit kit" - kits can easily be found for sale online!