#stormwater — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #stormwater, aggregated by home.social.
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How cities can use rain gardens to help prevent flooding
#Canada #Environment #Flooding #RainGardens #ClimateChange #Environment #UrbanFlooding #Stormwater #GreenInfrastructure #ClimateResilience #Sustainability #WaterManagement
https://the-14.com/how-cities-can-use-rain-gardens-to-help-prevent-flooding/ -
Research - #RainBarrels and Other Household Stormwater Strategies Are Working — For Now.
May 5, 2026
Excerpt: " 'When we talk about #CircularEconomy, most people think about #recycling waste and materials. But the concept of circular economy also applies to water. Here we're talking about installing #rainwater #cisterns, reusing water from the sink to flush toilets and using water-efficient appliances. While those may seem like small steps at the individual level, we found that if they are widely adopted, they can have a significant collective impact,' said Fernanda Cruz Rios, PhD, an assistant professor in the College of Engineering, who was a co-author of the research. 'They help reduce demand on the municipal supply, and the energy needed to treat and distribute that water. But what we found was that these strategies offer a real double benefit. In areas like #PhiladelphiaPA and #CamdenME, that are particularly vulnerable due to their proximity to large bodies of water, we were able to see a meaningful reduction in flooding volumes when circular water strategies were adopted.'
"Despite the ongoing compliance efforts, the cities of Philadelphia and Camden have around 16 billion gallons of combined #sewer overflow, according to reports from their respective water utilities.
"Over the last two and a half decades, Camden has established a stormwater management plan, including decentralized strategies, an upgrade to #stormwater infrastructure and storm water management modeling. To understand the overall impact of these efforts, in hopes of applying findings to other vulnerable urban areas, the Drexel team created a computer model of stormwater movement using data from Cramer Hill, a neighborhood of Camden in the state’s 'coastal hazard zone' that is highly susceptible to tidal and storm-surge flooding.
"The researchers structured the model so that it could quantify the distinct effects of outdoor strategies (cisterns and rain barrels) and indoor strategies — efficient fixtures and reusing sink wash water (#greywater) for toilet flushing. It simulated and measured the effect of 16 different combinations of strategies, ranging from rain barrels of different sizes, to varying levels of adoption of water-efficient fixtures and greywater reuse."Each scenario was simulated using precipitation and tidal data from 2014 as a baseline and flooding measurements projected at locations across the neighborhood and at five stormwater outfall areas that contribute to combined sewer overflow discharges into the #DelawareRiver.
The results show that the combination of retrofitting homes with #WaterEfficientFixtures as well as installing rain barrels and practicing greywater reuse, when adopted by 75% of households, could reduce the volume of combined sewer overflows by as much as 11% and the volume of #floodwaters by up to 13%.
" 'This finding is an important and encouraging piece of information for municipalities that are facing similar challenges,' Marques said. 'Although broad adoption of these measures can be challenging to achieve, confirmation of its effectiveness may help to make the case.' "
#SolarPunkSunday #ClimateChangeAdaptation #Graywater #StormwaterSeparation #StormwaterReduction #WaterCisterns #UrbanPlanning #WaterUse #WaterIsLife #ClimateChange
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So, I ended up emptying both our rainbarrels during a dry spell (110 gallons of water), using the water for not only my home garden, but my community garden plot as well. After a heavy, but brief, rainstorm this week, both barrels are full again. #Rainbarrels help prevent water from overflowing storm drain systems and they provide water during droughts. Make sure you use a tight screen to keep mosquitoes out (I replaced the screens that came with my rainbarrels, and I don't even have to use Bt now).
The Case for Rain Barrels
By Felicia Hokenstad, May 7, 2026
"As #ClimateChange continues to impact our weather patterns, the preservation and efficient use of water resources have become pressing issues for many communities. One innovative solution that is gaining traction is the rain barrel. These straightforward tools not only help us conserve water but also alleviate the burden on our #stormwater systems.
A rain barrel is essentially a tank for collecting and storing rainwater from roof downspouts, typically holding around 55 gallons. By capturing this valuable resource, residents can reuse it for watering #gardens, landscaping, and other non-potable needs. This practice has multiple benefits: it reduces #reliance on municipal water [or well water], provides naturally soft rainwater—which is gentler on plants than treated tap water—and lessens stormwater runoff that can contribute to flooding and streambank erosion."
Learn more:
https://www.cleanriverpartners.org/our-stories/the-case-for-rain-barrels#SolarPunkSunday #ClimateChangeGardening #ClimateChangeAdaptation #WaterIsLife #Drought #HeavyRains
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#Aotearoa / #NewZealand - The case for #WildlifeCorridors, bridges & belts
Connected networks of vegetated or aquatic spaces that enable movement of species across fragmented urban landscapes.
Excerpt: "#ClimateChange – #VegetatedCorridors contribute to #UrbanCooling and #microclimate regulation, supporting #ClimateAdaptation benefits alongside #biodiversity outcomes.
#HumanWellbeing – Access to connected, #biodiverse #GreenSpaces is associated with improved psychological wellbeing and restorative experiences.
#Freshwater security – Riparian and #BlueGreenCorridors can improve #stormwater attenuation, #WaterQuality, and #flood #resilience while supporting aquatic and terrestrial connectivity."Read more:
https://aotearoabiodivercity.org/design-strategies/green-wildlife-corridors-bridges-and-belts/#SolarPunkSunday #ClimateChangeAdaptation #GreenerCities #GreenCorridors #WildlifeCrossing #WaterIsLife #NatureHeals #SpendTimeInNature #Greenspaces
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#Michigan - Oakland County #RainSmart program expected to keep millions of gallons of #water out of #sewer - here's how
By Amber Eikenberry
Published January 27, 2026 12:51pmOAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. (FOX 2) - "Two years of helping Oakland County residents install green infrastructure is expected to keep 1.4 million gallons of stormwater out of the sewer system annually.
"During the two-year RainSmart Rebates pilot program, residents located in the George W. Kuhn Drain Drainage District were able to receive money to install rain gardens, rain barrels, and native trees to their yards.
Participants were able to install one garden, up to two trees, and two rain barrels after an evaluation of their property to determine which infrastructure would work best.
By the numbers:
According to Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash, the second year of the program, which started in 2024 and just wrapped up, saw a 22% increase in participation from 2024.
This past year, 379 rain barrels, 199 native trees, and 105 rain gardens were installed.
In 2024, there were 159 rain barrels, 98 trees, and 49 rain gardens installed.
Since the pilot began, nearly 300 residents have participated. A total of more than $176,000 rebates were distributed, with the average participant receiving $500 for their projects.
Why it matters:
Flooding is a major issue in many parts of #MetroDetroit, especially in cities that are part of the #GeorgeWKuhnDrain Drainage District, including all or part of Berkley, Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Clawson, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, Madison Heights, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak, Royal Oak Township, Southfield, and Troy,
This is because it is a combined sewer system. In a combined system, #wastewater and #stormwater both flow through the same pipes, known as gray infrastructure, and go to a wastewater treatment plant.
This means that during periods of intense rain like Metro Detroit has been seeing more frequently, the system can get overwhelmed. The result? Flooded streets and backups into homes.
Also, there is a greater likelihood of contaminants making it into the system. This is a concern even for homes not on a combined sewer system.
Rain barrels, trees, and native plant gardens all help reduce the amount of rainwater that makes it to the sewer system."
#SolarPunkSunday #WaterCollection #Rainbarrels #NativePlants #NativeTrees #RainGardens #TreePlanting
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Detection And Spatial Modelling Of Trends In UK Rainfall Frequency
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https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2026.2622458 <-- shared paper
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#GIS #spatial #mapping #extremeweather #rainfall #pluvial #frequency #trends #nonstationarity #extremevalue #model #modeling #monitoring #UnitedKingdom #UK #Britian #England #Scotland #Wales #precipitation #spatialanalysis #spatiotemporal #drainage #monitoring #planning #resilience #naturalhazards #flooding #flood #water #hydrology # #sewerage #sewage #wastewater #waterways #pollution #spills #releases #stormwater #erosion #massmovement #landslides #engineeringgeology #risk #hazard #climatic #covariates #raingauges #maximums #duration #winter #NorthernEngland #NorthAtlanticOscillation #NAO #index #metrics #annualmaximum #AMAX #seasonalmaximum #SMAX #peaksoverthreshold #POT #statistics #geostatistics #MetOffice #weather #climate -
Thirty Years of the U.S. National Land Cover Database - Impacts and Future Direction
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https://doi.org/10.14358/PERS.25-00121R2 <-- shared paper
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“Editor's choice article for the October Issue of Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing.”
#GIS #spatial #mapping #remotesensing #opendata #earthobservation #landcover #USA #NLCD #MRLCC #history #datacollection #impervioussurface #classifaction #landform #forestcanopy #fedscience #fedservice #deeplearning #AI #spatialanalysis #change #monitoring #usecase #research #landmanagement #management #policy #planning #support #agriculture #urbanplanning #environment #ecosystems #biodiversity #conservation #water #hydrology #humanhealth #risk #hazard #soils #naturalhazard #spatiotemporal #landchange #forestry #watermanagement #waterquality #publicsafety #groundwater #NCLA #wildfire #stormwater #extremeweather
#USGS #EROS #NASA #USFS -
#Australia: Research shows #NativePlants can detox #PFAS-contaminated #water
New research from Australia's national science agency #CSIRO, the #UniversityOfSouthAustralia and the #UniversityOfWesternAustralia has found that PFAS chemicals can be removed from contaminated water using Australian plants grown in a floating #wetland.
May 4, 2022
"They’re the non-stick on #Teflon cookware, the stain resistance in #Scotchgard, and the suppression factor in #FirefightingFoam, but while the staying power of PFAS chemicals was once revered, it’s now infamous as PFAS substances continue to infiltrate the #environment and affect human health.
"Now, new research from the University of South Australia is helping to remediate the ‘indestructible’ PFASs as scientists show that Australian native plants can significantly remediate PFAS pollutants through floating wetlands to create healthier environments for all.
"Conducted in partnership with CSIRO and the University of Western Australia, the research found that PFAS chemicals (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) can be removed from contaminated water via Australian #NativeRushes - #PhragmitesAustralis, #BaumeaArticulata, and #JuncusKraussii.
"Phragmites australis, otherwise known as the #CommonReed, removed legacy PFAS contaminants by 42-53 per cent from contaminated surface water (level: 10 µg/L).
"According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to PFAS may lead to a range of health issues including a decline in fertility, developmental delays in children, increased risk of some cancers, a reduced immune system, higher cholesterol, and risk of obesity.
"UniSA and CSIRO researcher Dr John Awad says that this research could alleviate many of these environmental and health risks by providing a clean, green, and cost-effective method to remove PFAS from the environment.
" 'PFASs are often referred to as ‘forever chemicals’ because they don’t break down, instead accumulating in the environment and in our bodies where they can cause adverse health effects,' Dr Awad says.
" 'In Australia, PFAS concerns often relate to the use of firefighting foam – especially legacy firefighting foam – which accumulates in the #SurfaceWater of our #waterways.
" 'Our research tested the effectiveness of Australian rushes to remove #PFASChemicals from #stormwater, finding that Phragmites australis was the most effective at absorbing chemicals through its roots and shoots.'
"The study used constructed floating wetlands as a mechanism for plants to grow #hydroponically. Dr Awad says floating wetlands present a novel and flexible way for natural #remediation systems.
" 'Constructed floating wetlands can be readily installed into existing urban environments, such as holding reservoirs and retention basins, making them highly manoeuvrable and adaptable to local waterways,' Dr Awad says.
" 'Plus, as this innovative water treatment system does not require pumping or the ongoing addition of #chemicals, it is a #CostEffective remediation system for PFAS removal.
" 'Add native plants to the mix and we have delivered a truly clean, green and environmentally-friendly method for removing toxic PFAS chemicals from contaminated water.' "
Notes to editors:
- So far, the floating wetlands system has only been examined under control laboratory conditions for PFAS remediation and the research team is looking forward to testing it in the real world, under natural conditions.
- This research is being carried out at the UniSA Mawson Lakes campus. PFAS has not been detected in or around Mawson lakes."Original press release:
https://www.unisa.edu.au/media-centre/Releases/2022/hydroponic-native-plants-to-detox-pfas-contaminated-water/#SolarPunkSunday #PFAScontamination #ForeverChemicals #Remediation #PollutionSolutions #WaterIsLife #PFASPollution #Remediation #PFASRemoval #PFASRemediation
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This is #PicnicPond in #BrunswickMaine. It is closed to the public because of #PFAS contamination, but there is plenty of #Wildlife in the area, and the pond empties into #HarpswellCove / #CascoBay.
Image source and more info about Picnic Pond:
https://maineanencyclopedia.com/brunswick-landing/#Stormwater #Environment #PFASPollution #BrunswickLanding #BrunswickNavalAirStation #CascoBay #PollutionRunoff #OceansAreLife #WaterIsLife #WebOfLife #Superfund #PFOS