We Need Water

Bioretention gardens use soil, microbes, and plants to drain and treat storm water before it’s infiltrated or discharged. The water flows into the area, is filtered through soil and rock, while some water is also taken up by the plants. These areas can provide pollutant removal, and serve as an alternative to drains that feed directly into our storm water system.

Did you know that while waste water from Memphis is treated before it is released into the river, storm water is not? This means that everything from the street (litter, oil, landscaping chemicals, cigarette butts,) washes straight into the Mississippi River. Even yard waste, mulch, and grass clippings negatively impact aquatic ecosystems when washed down the drains by altering the natural oxygen levels. Learn more at memphisstormwater.com and follow @wolfriverconservancy @memphiscitybeautiful @nonconnahcreek_conservancy

Our pristine drinking water in Memphis is also at risk because of potential breaches in the natural filtration that gives us the water. Follow @protectouraquifer for more information and visit caesar.memphis.edu

The project in the photos was used as an alternative to using a French drain that released in the street. The grade of the yard was altered slightly, using a swale, to naturally drain excess water to the garden. The bed was installed with a gravel base and “catch” pipes, gravel creek beds that were directly interconnected to the sub base, pockets of well-draining soil, mulch, and water-loving plants. In this situation it was also a more affordable option. A win all the way around!