ECO SUPERIOR
*****************
THUNDER BAY -- June, July, and August all recorded higher than average temperatures this summer. July and August also featured much lower-than-average precipitation. As the days become hotter and drier, the conservation and proper treatment of rain water becomes increasingly important.
EcoSuperior, Habitat for Humanity Thunder Bay, and the United Way of Thunder Bay are partnering to build a rain garden at Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore located at 660 Squire Street. Rain gardens are bowl-shaped perennial gardens that capture runoff from hard surfaces like rooftops and parking lots during heavy rainfall events. Green stormwater management features like this help to absorb and naturally filter pollutants from stormwater before entering nearby streams and rivers, recharging groundwater and protecting water quality.
“We are thrilled to be working with Habitat for Humanity and United Way of Thunder Bay on this project. Before this rain garden, 100 per cent of runoff from the ReStore’s administrative building was flowing from downspouts directly onto the parking lot and lost in nearby ditches and storm drains. Now, some of that runoff is being diverted to a landscaped area on the lawn. This means less runoff overburdening storm sewers during rain storms and more water infiltrating the ground slowly, the way nature intended,” says Julia Prinselaar, program coordinator with EcoSuperior.
Lana Vukelic, CEO at Habitat for Humanity Thunder Bay, explains, “The installation of this rain garden is an example of how organizations, municipalities, and businesses can work together towards a shared vision for our community. This endeavour supports us learning together and directly impacting the way we interact with water in our neighbourhoods.”
Rain gardens come in many shapes and sizes and can be designed to complement various urban landscapes. For more information on how you can build your own rain garden, contact EcoSuperior.
