Landscaping That Helps Our Rivers? Tune in to ‘Radio Times’ Tomorrow and Get Inspired!

Ditch the Concrete: This yard was depaved through Philadelphia Water’s Rain Check program, which helps homeowners build and pay for green tools that beautify properties and improve local water quality. Credit: Philadelphia Water

Concrete and asphalt — not exactly materials you associate with the beauty of spring in Philadelphia, right?

In addition to being unpleasant to look at, these materials contribute to the urban “heat island” effect, amplify noise pollution, and divert water from storms into our (often overwhelmed) sewer system instead of allowing it to slowly filter into the ground naturally.

That last problem—the water-repelling or “impervious” nature of roofs, driveways, sidewalks and concrete-covered backyards—is something that Philadelphia Water has been working to address through our Rain Check program. By educating and working with homeowners through Rain Check, we’ve made hundreds of properties in the city not only more beautiful, but also better at managing stormwater that can damage homes and pollute our waterways. We’ve also given away over 4,000 free rain barrels to Philadelphia residents since 2006.

If you’re interested in learning about what you can do on your property to protect our rivers, or how we can help you pay for green stormwater tools like rain gardens, downspout planters and porous paving projects through Rain Check, tune into Radio Times on WHYY tomorrow at 11 a.m. to hear from some of our experts.

Philadelphia Water outreach specialist Maggie Dunn and Zachary Popkin, of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, will be talking about how these projects can be the perfect way to take your spring landscaping plans to the next level while helping Philadelphia’s rivers and creeks.

UPDATE: Stream the March 10 Radio Times episode on Rain Check here.

Already feeling inspired? Sign up for a free Rain Check workshop, which is the first step to getting your own at-home green stormwater tools!

MORE Check out this slideshow of Rain Check projects that improved homes and stormwater management across the city: