Rain gardens are depressions in the land that are located in areas that can capture water flowing off streets, parking lots, and other pavements. To be most effective, rain gardens are planted with native plants that help to remove pollutants from the water flowing into it. From schools and parking lots to your driveway or sidewalks at home, rain gardens can be planted anywhere you have water runoff!

Click on the Educational Video to learn more.

Rain gardens are designed to capture and treat stormwater by providing drainage and removing pollutants. The Village Center rain garden receives stormwater from the paved area near the garden, and the Village Hall and Public Works rain gardens receive stormwater from their active driveways.

The roots of the native plants treat or remove the nitrogen, phosphorus, fecal coliform and suspended solids carried by the stormwater to the rain garden. Rain gardens allow water to filter slowly into the ground rather than running off to storm drains that discharge to surface water (such as the Port Jefferson Harbor that supports so much wildlife) or to groundwater (which we eventually drink). After passing through a rain garden, the harmful products and bacteria originally within the stormwater have been absorbed by the plants and drain out of the rain garden cleaner than it entered.

Click on the 11 blue raindrop signs below to learn more.