The Earth911 Rain Garden Installation Guide

"When it rains, water runs off your roof, driveway, and sidewalks, picking up fertilizers, oil, pesticides, and sediment before flowing into storm drains and eventually your local waterways. At the same time, treated drinking water is used inside your home to keep your lawn green with sprinklers. This cycle wastes valuable water in both directions."

"The EPA reports that outdoor water use accounts for about 30 percent of household water use nationwide, with nearly 9 billion gallons of drinking water used each day for landscaping. In the dry Southwest, outdoor use can reach 60 percent of a household's total. Up to half of the water used for home irrigation is lost to evaporation, wind, and runoff."

"A well-designed rain garden can filter up to 90 percent of nutrient pollutants and 80 percent of sediments from runoff, according to HGTV's rain garden guide. This means less pollution reaches rivers, lakes, and aquifers, helping protect your community's drinking water."

Rain gardens are shallow, planted areas that redirect stormwater runoff to filter naturally through soil, recharging groundwater and reducing reliance on treated drinking water for landscaping. Outdoor water use accounts for approximately 30 percent of household water consumption nationwide, with nearly 9 billion gallons of treated water used daily for landscaping. In arid regions like the Southwest, outdoor use can reach 60 percent of total household water. Rain gardens absorb up to 30 percent more water than regular lawns, filter 90 percent of nutrient pollutants and 80 percent of sediments from runoff, and significantly reduce pollution reaching waterways. This sustainable solution addresses water waste in both directions by capturing free rainwater while decreasing the need for treated water irrigation.

Read at Earth911