Raingardens:

In nature, rain tends to soak into the ground gradually. But today much of our land is covered with impervious surfaces - such as streets, parking lots, sidewalks, and buildings - that deter water from soaking into the ground. After a heavy rainfall, the water runs off quickly into storm sewers then into our streams, rivers and lakes carrying with it a variety of pollutants like oils, gasoline, and lawn fertilizers and pesticides. This necessitates the building of more costly municipal water treatment facilities in order to protect a clean supply of quality water.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, storm water runoff is the Number 1 water quality problem facing the nation. A Raingarden helps rainwater infiltrate into the ground, thus reducing storm sewer runoff while recharging our aquifers. Creating a Raingarden is one eco-friendly way everyone can help in reducing this problem. Raingardens are quickly becoming important additions to many home landscaping designs. What exactly is a Raingarden?

A Raingarden is a prepared, shallow depression in the ground that is intended to capture rainwater long enough for it to have the chance to soak back into the soil rather than run off into the nearest sewer drain. Add native plants and perennials with deep root systems that can tolerate wet conditions and stabilize the soil, and the result becomes a “Raingarden”.

Raingardens are not ponds. These are gardens specifically intended to help protect water quality. Inexpensive and easily maintained, Raingardens add variety, interest and beauty to your landscape.

If you are interested in adding a Raingarden to your landscape, contact Aqua Par Lifestyles today at 763-497-9378 or CLICK HERE. Our professional designers and installers can create a Raingarden that fits your needs, your budget and your landscape.

Rain Barrels:

What are Rain Barrels and why use them?

Rain Barrels have long been used as a method for capturing rainwater. This traditional system is now being given an updated look. Get creative with your home improvement projects and help out the environment at the same time!

Rain Barrels and Rainwater Harvest Systems are convenient ways to collect rainwater runoff from your rooftop then use the stored water for a variety of activities. This collection and reuse of our most valuable resource is important as runoff can collect pollutants such as oil, bacteria, grease, and excess nutrients and dump it into our waterways. Rain Barrels not only store water for use during the hot, dry summer months, they help reduce the burden on our municipal water systems. Residential irrigation accounts for more than 40 percent of domestic water consumption, so it’s important for us to preserve and use what nature has provided us.

To purchase one of our Rain Barrels, CALL 763-497-9378 OR CLICK HERE!

Rainwater Harvest Storage System

Capturing rainwater is not a new idea. In fact, the idea of capturing rainwater goes back to ancient times. Today, this wise practice is being rekindled for various environmental reasons and being given a new look! Water, though once an inexpensive resource, is becoming an unpredictable, highly regulated and, sometimes, scarce commodity. Over the last few decades we have done little to conserve this precious resource. In fact we have done just the opposite. We have wasted it through lack of oversight, increased urban sprawl, and over use. All life requires water in order to survive. That’s why it is necessary to be aware of the issues facing us and to identify viable solutions to ensure clean, healthy water for our future.

Why is it necessary for us to revisit the idea of rainwater storage? Mainly because our demand for clean water is becoming greater than the supply available. Our water supply is continuing to decline despite regular rain events. Stormwater runoff from the numerous impervious surfaces we have created does not soak into the ground where it is needed. Instead it runs quickly into our sewers, rivers and streams carrying pollutants with it. The increased water velocity of this runoff water strips vegetation from shores and riverbeds exposing the soil to erosion and habitat loss. Almost 50% of our stream miles, 45% of lake acres and 35% of estuary and bay square miles surveyed by the EPA are considered below the standards for fishing and swimming. Our aquifers are losing water and our groundwater resources are becoming depleted since rainwater does not have the chance to seep back into the soil naturally. In many areas of the country, wells are going dry or have to be drilled deeper into the aquifer in order to access the lower water levels.

Aqua Par Lifestyles is offering a unique design and installation that combines a re-circulating decorative water feature with an in-ground rainwater storage system!

Aesthetic Benefits of a Rainwater Harvest Storage System: Now you can combine the beauty of a water feature with in-ground water storage to capture and reuse our most precious resource, water! Choose either a pondless waterfall or decorative fountain to accentuate the beauty of your home landscape and capture, filter, and store nutrient rich rainwater for many of your irrigation needs - such as watering your lawn or garden. You can also use stored rainwater to wash your car!

Environmental Benefits of a Rainwater Harvest Storage System: Approximately 80% of our rainwater runs into storm sewers versus soaking into the ground. Replacing hardscapes with permeable alternatives, like a Rainwater Storage System helps in water conservation. With in-ground water storage, Aqua Par Lifestyles’ self-sustainable, re-circulating pondless waterfalls or decorative water features help reduce the need for chemically-treated traditional water sources. An additional environmental benefit of these unique Rainwater Harvest Storage Systems is that the stored water is constantly moving and being aerated.  It then becomes a sanctuary for wildlife.