Stormwater Management

Stormwater management in Pittsburgh is a complicated and significant problem. In building a city, even one as picturesque as Pittsburgh, people have created a lot of hard surfaces: roads, sidewalks, lots for parking spaces, and these surfaces do nothing to absorb water when it rains. During a heavy storm or shower, the accumulated water from these surfaces heads straight to the closest storm drain. If overwhelmed by a heavy rain or storm, our local deteriorating storm water system can lead to sewage overflow in the city or into nearby rivers. Installing Rain Gardens in urban areas is a simple way to successfully reduce the burden on our city infrastructure and also replenish the local ground water supply.

GTECH Storm Water Projects

Millvale Rain Garden

Resources

Three Rivers Wet Weather: to learn more about the region's storm water issues
Rain Garden Alliance: to learn more about rain gardens, and find one near you
Nine Mile Run Watershed Association: to learn more about an organization tackling storm water issues in a specific watershed
Beechwood Nursery at the Audubon Society: a great source of native plants, many of which can be used in rain gardens
Sylvania Natives: another great source of native plants