Stormwater Incentives

May 06, 2025 09:35:45

Hi everyone!

New to this forum, and have spent all morning reading about rain garden construction tips and rain catchment. This is an AMAZING source for people. My mind is blown! I work for a startup called Rainplan, and our entire focus is on getting cities and people to utilize stormwater incentive programs. Especially since 80% of rain fall lands on private property. Anywho, we often struggle with the education side of things for people. Most of our team are not certified green experts, but more techies. I would love to get feedback on our incentive search website and/or be able to start partnering with experts in the field.

Too long, didn't read:

1. Would love feedback on our incentive search engine. www.myrainplan.com
2. Would love to start partnering and helping promote green experts and their events. We can't contribute a ton of education, but we can certainly help promote and champion others with this skill set.

May 06, 2025 09:42:31

I don't know anything about incentive programmes, but our local CRD has about 30 years expirence educating the public about managing rain water.

https://www.crd.ca/environment/stormwater-watersheds-harbours/stormwater/managing-your-rainwater

The method will be different depending on the location. But it's a starting point.

May 06, 2025 09:45:12

I'm not familiar with stormwater incentives and what the intention of them is?

Is it to reduce runoff or perhaps capture rainwater? Something like the incorporation of swales to intercept runoff?

May 06, 2025 09:54:18

My .02$: the page where you can browse all incentives by state...the states should be in alphabetical order.

May 06, 2025 10:27:00

I'm not up much for incentives because I find such fantastic motivation right here on Permies.

Some of my favorite threads:
benefits of rainwater collection - https://permies.com/t/88043/benefits-rainfall-collection
rainwater collection to supplement public water - https://permies.com/t/6596/Rainwater-collection-supplement-public-water
water art - https://permies.com/t/65359/sculpture/art/water-art-water-features-water

The thing I like about designing your own system is that it can be expandable over time, like this one on our barn. That way it's easy on the budget.

May 06, 2025 10:30:38

Thanks R Ranson. How did you guess that I needed that link this week. #2 Son needs to build a house, and there needs to be a rainwater management plan in place.

That piece of land already "spreads" the rainfall from higher elevation around it. However, I think I'm going to need better ways to help the water infiltrate.

If anyone has ideas about improving infiltration in fairly high clay, compacted "soil" - more likely "subsoil", that would be really helpful. I believe the area has minimal topsoil over top of what I'd describe as "glacially deposited and compacted mixed whatever"! Humans may be accused of compacting soil through bad practices, but I am finding that Glaciers are darn good at compacting it too!

May 06, 2025 14:34:50

thanks everyone! This is great feedback and much appreciated. <3 <3

Someone asked about incentives and their purpose: Local and State Incentives (rebates, tax credits, copayments, free rain barrels, etc), are there to reward private properties, both residential and commercial, who retrofit their landscapes or drainage. Rewarding them because the city needs help relieving their combined sewer systems. OR in areas like the southwest, so the city can have some relief on its limited water capabilities. Of course, it's all about the economics of local waterway commerce, property damage, and EPA fines. You mostly see incentives in cities with combined sewer systems, any major cities around large watersheds, and now in medium to large cities where water scarcity is becoming a huge issue.

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Paul Wheaton's Permaculture Products and Paraphenalia

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