Rainwater Harvesting Water Features

Rainwater Harvesting Water Features are the hottest new thing in water gardening because of renewed concerns for the environment. There are two fabulous new options available this season to help you beautify your landscape:

RainGardens - Landscaped areas planted with native wild flowers and other cultivated wetland plants that soak up rain water, mainly from roof water downspouts. A RainGarden fills up with a few inches of water after a storm and then slowly filters the water back into the ground rather than running off into your local storm sewer system.

Rainwater Harvesting Systems - Capture storm water from rooftops & patios into an underground reservoir. They are combined with a beautiful decorative water feature to help filter the water so that it can be reused to wash your car, fill up your hot tub or pool, or even irrigate your landscape at a later date during dry periods. They are better than RainGardens because all water is captured, filtered, and reused.

Why is rainwater harvesting so important? As development and urban expansion replaces agricultural land and forests, increased stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces becomes a big problem for residents in municipalities across Canada. Excessive runoff increases flooding; carries pollutants from streets, parking lots and even lawns into local streams and lakes; and leads to costly municipal improvements in local stormwater management infrastructures.

While an individual Rainwater Harvesting System may represent only one small part of the solution, collectively they can produce substantial environmental benefits for your neighbourhood and community. Rainwater harvesting will benefit you in several ways by:

Increasing the amount of water that filters into the ground,
    thereby recharging local and regional aquifers.

Allowing you to get rid of unsightly, inefficient plastic rain barrels
    and tanks. Rainwater Harvesting Systems allow you to store
    stormwater underground and out of sight.

Preventing flooding and drainage problems in your
    neighbourhood and your surrounding community.

Helping protect streams, rivers and lakes from pollutants carried
    by urban stormwater - lawn fertilizers, pesticides, oil and fluids
    from roads and vehicles, fecal matter from pets and farm stock,
    and other harmful substances from rooftops and paved areas.

Providing valuable habitat for native birds, butterflies and
    beneficial insects.

Looking gorgeous! Imagine a waterfront lifestyle in your own
    backyard.

Is a RainGarden expensive?

It doesn't have to be. If friends and family help with the labour, the main cost will be purchasing plants. Rainwater Harvesting Systems will cost a little more because of the pumps and plumbing materials required. Until the end of 2009, all rainwater harvesting landscape projects qualify for up to $1,350.00 in financial assistance through the Government of Canada Home Renovation Tax Credit

Does a RainGarden form a pond?

No. The rain water will soak in so your RainGarden is dry between rainfalls. If you wish to have the sights and sounds of water in your landscape you can install a Rainwater Harvesting System, where water is stored in a storage basin beneath the planting beds. By adding waterfall and stream, a bubbling urn, or a decorative spitter feature, you can create a beautiful re-circulating FountainScape all within the same space - and the birds will love it!

Are they a breeding ground for mosquitoes?

No. Mosquitoes need 7 to 12 days to lay and hatch eggs, and any standing water in a RainGarden will last for a few hours after most storms. If you have a Rainwater Harvesting System, the water is constantly filtering and re-circulating. Mosquitoes are more likely to lay eggs in stagnant water in bird baths, storm sewers, and lawns than in a sunny RainGarden. Also, Rainwater Harvesting Systems attract dragonflies, which eat mosquitoes!

Do they require a lot of maintenance?

RainGardens can be maintained with very little effort after the plants have been established. Just like a regular perennial garden, some weeding and perhaps watering will be required in the first two years. Some thinning may be necessary in later years as the plants mature. In fall, you will need to winterize your Rainwater Harvesting System by removing the pump and storing it indoors until spring.

How Do I Learn More?

To learn more about Rainwater Harvesting Water Features, visit our Retail Store or go to www.rainxchange.com