Improving your impact on the stormwater system is all about educating yourself and getting to know how stormwater management tools work. You can do plenty at home, and you can also be an active observer around the community. Paying attention to what happens to stormwater in your area can lead to innovative solutions that will work best for your home and neighborhood.

Home and away

At home, take a walk down your street or around your neighborhood, to get familiar with your nearest stormwater systems. Know where your storm drains, outflows and stormwater runoff ponds are and what they’re supposed to do. For instance, if it hasn’t rained in 72 hours and you hear or see water running in the storm drains, that would be a sign of a water leak, wastewater or stormwater pollution happening in the neighborhood.

In outflows and stormwater ponds, warning signs of pollution also may be seen. If you see a buildup of trash or debris, algae blooms that can signal bacteria, sediment buildup or unusual soil erosion, or contaminants like soap or oil in the water, call your municipal department in charge of stormwater. Another tip your local stormwater workers will appreciate you following: Don’t feed geese, ducks or other animals you see frequenting local stormwater ponds. They’re often understandably attracted to ponds, but their waste can become an additional pollution problem if they are encouraged to stay in an area by being fed.

In Marquette, the place to contact about stormwater problems is the city’s Public Works and Utilities department, at 228-0444. Outside the city, check with your local government.

Rain barrels

Maybe your grandparents had one of these, but they’ve become less common in many households. The idea is one well worth re-adopting. Rain barrels or cisterns sit below your downspouts or gutters and collect rainwater during storms. The water then can be used when you need it, for watering your lawn or garden, washing your car or your dog, cleaning outside tools or around the house, or other graywater uses. Cooking with or drinking rainwater isn’t a good idea, though.

It’s pretty much a win-win all the way around; you save on water, and the stormwater system saves on runoff. It’s even better for your garden plants to water from a rain barrel, because the untreated water has natural nutrients that help you avoid using fertilizers, and doesn’t have additives like chlorine and fluoride that are in tap water. (Those do help keep drinking water healthy and safe for people, however.)

In the spring of 2019, the Superior Watershed Partnership will be offering a limited cost-sharing program for purchasing a rain barrel, and information on how to make your own rain barrel. For more information on rain barrels, contact SWP at 228-6095 or visit their website, www.superiorwatersheds.org.

Rain gardens

If you have noticeable stormwater runoff in your yard or on your property, a rain garden might be the way to go. It’s more time- and planning-intensive than some options, but the payoff is substantial in terms of keeping your stormwater impact minimal. Rain gardens are usually designed with a variety of native plants and shrubs and incorporate graveled or mulched areas to moderate water drainage.

Instead of allowing stormwater to run from your downspouts to the street, straight into the storm drains, think about disconnecting the downspout and creating a rain garden. It will absorb stormwater runoff in the most natural way possible, and let it filter through the ground slowly and return to your ecosystem’s water cycle.

During the summer of 2019, the Great Lakes Conservation Corps, an on-the-ground conservation workforce that’s part of the Superior Watershed Partnership, will be providing several free rain garden design and installation demonstrations for interested home and business owners. For more information about rain gardens and resources on how to create one, contact the SWP at 228-6095 or visit them online at www.superiorwatersheds.org.