Stormwater issues can be emailed directly to stormwater@cityofeasley.com.
What is Stormwater?
Stormwater runoff occurs when precipitation from rain or snowmelt flows over the ground. Impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, and streets prevent stormwater from naturally soaking into the ground.
While rain is essential for many life-sustaining functions, too much rain — with nowhere to go — can lead to flooding, which increases the amount of water heading into storm drains. Storm drains open to underground pipes that lead runoff from pavement, buildings, and lawns straight into our streams, rivers, and lakes. When these drains overflow, flooding occurs, and pollution rises exponentially. Rain has two options when it hits the ground: soak into the soil to create groundwater or runoff into these storm drains.
However, there are ways residents of the City of Easley can help curb stormwater runoff by adding small changes to their yards.
As more and more natural areas in Easley are developed, the amount of natural land available for water to soak into the ground decreases. This is where residents can make a difference in their own backyard.
Rain gardens, which are functional and aesthetically pleasing, can be planted on the edge of areas where natural depressions in the land occur — sites where water naturally pools. Planting native plants in these areas helps water soak into the landscape instead of running into drains, taking pollutants, such as chemicals and sediment, with it. These natural areas also create habitat for wildlife and important pollinators.
Rain barrels are a way to collect water runoff from roofs before it hits lawns and impervious surfaces such as roadways, parking lots, and driveways. The water collected in the rain barrel can be used to water gardens or wash cars, reducing the use of city tap water.
These are just two of the numerous ways residents can help stop stormwater in its tracks. To learn more about helping “slow it down spread it out, and soak it in,” visit www.clemson.edu/extension
FORMS:
Stormwater Approval Form.docx
Stormwater runoff occurs when precipitation from rain or snowmelt flows over the ground. Impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, and streets prevent stormwater from naturally soaking into the ground.
While rain is essential for many life-sustaining functions, too much rain — with nowhere to go — can lead to flooding, which increases the amount of water heading into storm drains. Storm drains open to underground pipes that lead runoff from pavement, buildings, and lawns straight into our streams, rivers, and lakes. When these drains overflow, flooding occurs, and pollution rises exponentially. Rain has two options when it hits the ground: soak into the soil to create groundwater or runoff into these storm drains.
However, there are ways residents of the City of Easley can help curb stormwater runoff by adding small changes to their yards.
As more and more natural areas in Easley are developed, the amount of natural land available for water to soak into the ground decreases. This is where residents can make a difference in their own backyard.
Rain gardens, which are functional and aesthetically pleasing, can be planted on the edge of areas where natural depressions in the land occur — sites where water naturally pools. Planting native plants in these areas helps water soak into the landscape instead of running into drains, taking pollutants, such as chemicals and sediment, with it. These natural areas also create habitat for wildlife and important pollinators.
Rain barrels are a way to collect water runoff from roofs before it hits lawns and impervious surfaces such as roadways, parking lots, and driveways. The water collected in the rain barrel can be used to water gardens or wash cars, reducing the use of city tap water.
These are just two of the numerous ways residents can help stop stormwater in its tracks. To learn more about helping “slow it down spread it out, and soak it in,” visit www.clemson.edu/extension
FORMS:
Stormwater Approval Form.docx
