Rain Gardens

Small-Scale Nature-Based Stormwater Management (Solution Type)

Global (widely applicable)

Highlight

Planted depressions capture and filter runoff from streets and roofs, reducing flood peaks and pollution.

Extended description

Rain gardens are shallow planted areas designed to collect stormwater runoff from roofs, streets and other hard surfaces. Soil and vegetation temporarily store and filter the water, reducing peak flows into drainage systems, removing pollutants and supporting biodiversity. They can be installed at household, street or neighbourhood scale and are a flexible component of sustainable urban drainage and sponge-city strategies.