Whether you're ready to install a rain garden to capture runoff or if you'd like to harvest your rainwater with rain barrels or cisterns, learn about different options for preventing pollution while repurposing your rainwater.
A bioswale is a shallow ditch with gently sloping sides and various layers of soils beneath. Sometimes called a vegetated ditch, a bioswale slows stormwater runoff and directs it to an area where it can soak in.
Rain gardens capture rainwater from roofs and hard surfaces and redirect it into a shallow bowl-shaped garden instead of letting the runoff leave your property.
Rain barrels capture water from your roof to use at a later time - like during the hot summer months when you need to water your garden. “Harvesting” rain like this also prevents water from becoming runoff that carries pollutants from the road into our rivers, lakes, and other natural water bodies.
Cisterns are large storage tanks that collect rainwater from the roofs of houses, barns, businesses and schools. They only differ from rain barrels in their size, and can collect thousands of gallons of water annually. Visit Snohomish Conservation District's website for information about cisterns.