Out
On A Limb / April 2006
Right as Rain
Rain gardens can dramatically cut the amount of pollution in urban storm water, according to a study by U.S. Researchers. A research team from the University of Connecticut found that a shallow depression in a garden containing bark mulch and shrubs can remove up to 99% of toxins from storm water runoff containing fertilizers, oil and particulates. For the study, two rain gardens were planted and frequently monitored over a two-year period to see how effectively they absorbed a range of pollutants.
The concept of rain gardens has been around for 10 or 15 years but there has been little research to support their role as an ecological tool. Administrators of public sites are hesitant to implement ideas that have not been verified, so the study is an important step in bridging that gap.
The EPA estimates built-up urban areas generate nine times the amount of runoff water than woodlands of a similar size. The researchers noted the importance of rain gardens to help absorb downpours and mitigate storm water volumes that can overload drainage systems. The hope is that the findings will encourage town planners across the globe to consider using rain gardens.
The study findings appear in the Environmental Science and Technology Journal.
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