Rain Garden Planters

Rain gardens are a nature-based solution to capture urban rainwater run-off and reduce pollution from combined sewer overflows into the River Boyne. By introducing more rain gardens we will improve water quality, biodiversity, and climate change adaptation and mitigation.

The problem

Here in Navan town, like in many other Irish towns, we have a combined sewer system. This means that our wastewater and storm water go into one pipe system to be treated together. Combined sewers can cause water pollution problems. During heavy rainfall, rainwater runs off paved surfaces and rooftops and flows into the combined sewer system. This can become overloaded, leading to overflows of diluted wastewater into the River Boyne. E. Coli can also be introduced into the river, and sewage mixed with water can create methane (which traps 25 times more heat in our atmosphere than CO2). The problem is amplified by the trend for covering gardens with impervious materials, paved driveways, and the reduced size of gardens in general. See more about the current water quality of our local river waterbodies here.

How does a Rain Garden work?

A rain garden planter utilises rain water that lands on the roof. Water from the drain pipe is directed into the planter. The soil absorbs and stores the rainwater for the native plants to use, known as bioretention. Excess rainwater filters into the gravel layer and drains out the perforated base drainage pipe. The planter box and plant roots within it hold the water. This way, the rainwater doesn’t run into our already strained water system.

The benefits

They provide many other positive inputs to our urban environment by:

Reducing the amount of stormwater entering the sewage system.
Lessening pressure on treatment plants and pollution in our rivers.
Creating natural habitats in urban areas, attracting bees, butterflies and birds.
Providing pollinators with food and shelter from native plants in the Rain garden.
Raising public awareness of the importance of nature-based methods to manage waters.
Brightening our hard urban landscapes with plants.
Moderating air temperatures through evaporation.

Get involved

If you'd like to install your own rain garden planter in Navan, register here: https://forms.gle/MEMzLkqzh7Z7xwuF7

This project is generously supported by the Local Authority Waters Programme.

Rain Garden Planters

​

The problem