Why build a raingarden?
Raingardens are one of the best landscaping design ideas to come out of Melbourne’s recent drought and water shortage conditions. With more ideas like these, the health of Melbourne’s rivers and creeks is guaranteed to improve.
Why is stormwater such a problem for our rivers and creeks?
Each year about 500 billion litres of stormwater is washed off our roofs, driveways and roads when it rains. This stormwater contains many harmful pollutants such as oil, litter animal droppings, organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus, and it enters our rivers, creeks and bays untreated via stormwater drains.
Pollution such as nitrogen can cause excessive growth of algae, which leads to reduced oxygen levels in the water. Algal blooms threaten animals, plants and fish living in our rivers and creeks.
The amount and rate of stormwater entering our rivers and creeks after heavy rainfall can also be a problem, leading to erosion of river beds and banks and unfavourable conditions for many plant and animal species.
Benefits of building your own raingarden
There are many benefits for both you and the environment of building a raingarden in your own backyard.
Raingardens:
- are self watering and easy to maintain
- are water saving, especially if planted with native, drought tolerant plants
- help to filter stormwater before it enters our rivers and creeks
- help to reduce the rate and amount of stormwater that enters rivers and creeks after heavy rain
- can make a real difference to the environment and contribute to healthy waterways.
But don’t just take our word for it. Read what others who have built their own raingardens have to say:
