Utilizing native plants and trees in your business or campus landscaping allows for short and long term positive effects on stormwater runoff quantity and quality. Restoring your business and/or campus with native vegetation is one of the best things to do for the environment while also saving time and money.
A rain garden is a depressed, landscaped garden planted with native plant species that is designed to retain and infiltrate stormwater runoff from individual residential or commercial lots, sump pumps and roofs. Rain gardens are versatile features that can be installed in almost any unpaved space. Rain gardens have also been used successfully along streets to reduce and filter street runoff.
When considering whether to invest in a green roof it is important to contact a knowledgeable professional who can properly retrofit or develop a green roof for your specific project. See below for green roof professionals in your area. They are particularly cost-effective in dense urban areas where land values are high and on large industrial or office buildings where stormwater management costs are likely to be high.
Naturalized detention basins are designed to provide greater water quality and habitat benefits relative to standard dry-bottom (turfgrass) detention basins. They are stormwater control facilities that are planted with native vegetation in order to help improve stormwater quality. Immediately following the planting it is necessary to frequently inspect the basin to ensure the plants are establishing themselves properly.
Trees reduce and slow stormwater by intercepting precipitation in their leaves and branches. Trees pay a vital role in reducing erosion by slowing the flow of water and by stopping particles of soil carried by the water. Homeowners, businesses, and community groups can participate in planting and maintaining trees throughout the urban environment.
Porous pavement and permeable pavers are materials, structures and pavement designs that are specifically designed to allow water to pass through them so they can infiltrate into the underlying soils. Currently, they work well when used in pedestrian areas, on and off-street parking stalls and alleys.
Harvesting Rain. Cisterns are large rainwater storage tanks. They are made out of any impervious, water-retaining material and are only distinguishable from rain barrels because they are larger and have a different shape.
Phosphorus is a common nutrient found in lawn fertilizer and is one of the most problematic pollutants in stormwater. It wreaks havoc on aquatic ecosystems, particularly in streams and lakes. High levels of Phosphorus result in excess algae growth that depletes the water of oxygen, drastically reduces water quality and ultimately can cause fish kills.
The Central Permit Facility's best management practices (BMPs) (PDF) to reduce stormwater runoff and pollution were designed and constructed for a sustainable site development. The facility is located on the watershed divide between the Bull Creek subwatershed (PDF) and the Des Plaines mainstem watershed.
Storm drain marking is a great way to make people in your community more aware of nonpoint source pollution and polluted runoff. Storm drain marking serves as an educational tool to remind people about the connection between storm drains and local water resources.