Innovative Stormwater Management Solutions for Chester County Landscapes

Rain Gardens 

Rain gardens are a great stormwater management solution that checks all the boxes. Not only are they effective at collecting excess runoff and naturally filtering out pollutants, but they’re also an attractive landscape feature in their own right. But what exactly makes a rain garden different from a normal one? 

Well, rain gardens are placed at a lower elevation than the surrounding land, allowing all the runoff water to flow down into the garden. The water is then absorbed by the plants in the garden, leaving any harsh pollutants or trash on top of the soil where it can be easily picked up and disposed of. While a normal garden is only meant to look nice, rain gardens are an innovative stormwater management solution perfectly suited for properties all over Chester County. 

Vegetated Buffers

Vegetated buffers are similar to rain gardens in that they both use plants to absorb and filter stormwater. However, while rain gardens collect runoff, vegetated buffers are only really meant to slow it down. Vegetated buffers are great for preventing erosion and facilitating groundwater absorption and can play a key role in any stormwater management plan. 

Bioswales

Bioswales are another innovative and effective stormwater management solution perfectly suited for Chester County properties. These are essentially channels filled with a combination of plants, mulch, or gravel that collect and filter stormwater and guide it away from the property. 

Again, these are quite similar to rain gardens, with the main differences being that bioswales are channels that are usually meant to collect and carry much larger quantities of water, making them ideal for use around surfaces that can’t absorb water, like parking lots and driveways.

Box and French Drains

Box and French drains are an incredibly popular drainage solution used in properties all over the US. However, they work a bit differently than rain gardens, bioswales, and vegetated buffers. 

Instead of facilitating the ground’s ability to absorb more water, these drains capture runoff as it flows downhill and direct it away from the landscape, where it can drain properly. Box and French drains are most often used to prevent landscapes from becoming perpetually wet and swampy but can also be used to supplement other stormwater management measures.

Dry Detention Basins 

Dry detention basins are a common stormwater management solution for larger properties as they can handle large quantities of water. Basically, as rainwater falls, it will flow downhill, where it collects in the dry detention basin. As the water sits in the basin, any harmful pollutants or garbage will settle down at the bottom of the basin. Then, after a short period of time, the water is expelled into local waterways and sewer systems to drain. 

Another benefit of dry retention basins is that they are particularly effective as a flood control measure.

Retention Basins

Retention basins are another great stormwater management solution for larger properties. Unlike dry detention basins, retention basins mimic natural watersheds and feature a permanent pool of water into which stormwater runoff can flow. These ponds are then surrounded by vegetation that can absorb and filter water.

Retention basins are generally much better at removing pollutants from water than dry detention basins, making them an ideal choice for environmentally conscious property owners. 

Earthwork and Grading 

While not an all-in-one solution to stormwater management, adjusting the grading around a property can help direct runoff in the right direction. If a landscape is graded improperly, water will flow toward the property, potentially causing damage to its foundation, which can lead to increased water damage and costly repairs. However, with a bit of earthwork and proper grading, this problem can be fixed in an instant. 

Soil Amendments

The amount of water that the landscape around your property can absorb plays a big part in any stormwater management plan. Basically, the more water your landscape can absorb, the better off you’ll be. 

Soil amendments offer a great opportunity to increase the amount of water that the land can absorb by increasing the space between soil particles and providing nutrients that help plants thrive and absorb even more water.

While this, again, isn’t a comprehensive solution, soil amendments can be an effective tool that can help any property owner achieve their stormwater management goals.

Contact R&S Property Services Today

Are you struggling to develop a stormwater management system that meets your needs? Give R&S Property Services a call. Their team of Chester County landscape design and stormwater management experts is well-equipped to implement a wide variety of innovative and effective stormwater management solutions, from installing box drains and bioswales to general earthwork, grading, and soil amendments. 

So, don’t ignore your property’s stormwater management needs. Call R&S Property Services and get the stormwater management solutions you need today!