For more than two decades Green Venture has worked on a variety of water conservation projects such Depave Paradise, RAIN home visits, and Hamilton’s downspout disconnection program. The EcoHouse also demonstrates many green infrastructure features including established rain gardens, two types of living roof systems, a gravity-fed rain barrel irrigation system, a grey water system, a permeable Turf-Slab driveway, ecolawn demonstration, xeriscape garden, an Ecoraster permeable pathway, a variety of low-flow toilet options.
Green Venture’s primary focus at this time is on larger, community-based projects, and education about stormwater management, including encouraging the development of Low Impact Development (LID) projects. We are excited to announce the launch of Catch the RAIN, Dundas in 2019!
What is stormwater runoff?
Stormwater runoff is generated when rain, snowmelt or outdoor tap water makes its way across hard surfaces such as roofs, driveways, roads and parking lots. Stormwater runoff impacts water quality by transporting pollutants from hard surfaces like roads, roofs and parking lots into nearby streams, rivers and the Hamilton Harbour. With our changing climate we are seeing more frequent and heavier storm events.
The Problem: Rain in urban settings
In urban settings, where natural areas have been covered by hard surfaces, stormwater runoff is drained using storm sewers. These hard surfaces do not allow water to soak into the ground as it does in natural areas. This can contribute to: Flash floods, Sewer overflow, Wet basements, Stream erosion, Polluted surface waters, and Groundwater depletion.
The Solution: Green Infrastructure at Home
Be part of the stormwater solution! Soaking up stormwater on your property can help to reduce the volume of water and pollutants that flow into our streams and rivers via storm sewers and can help to protect your home from water related problems. The collective action of homeowners implementing green stormwater infrastructure techniques can capture and filter rainwater where it falls, beautifying our neighbourhoods, and protecting the overall health of our watershed.