West Grove Green Stormwater Infrastructure Study And Avon Grove Library Rain Garden Implementaion
Project Highlights (link to pdf)
In 2016, the Dockstader Foundation supported a new program spearheaded by the White Clay Watershed Association and the Brandywine Conservancy called Catch the Rain. The Catch the Rain program educates, encourages, and provides monetary incentives for voluntary implementation of green stormwater practices such as rain gardens and tree plantings. In 2019, the White Clay Watershed Association applied for additional funding to specifically help a local municipality, West Grove borough, develop a green stormwater infrastructure plan for the entire borough, and implement a Catch the Rain demonstration project in a public space. The implemented project is a rain garden located in front of the Avon Grove Public Library and West Grove Municipal Building. This garden will assist the municipality with attaining water quality standards mandated by the states through their stormwater permits while also serving as a public demonstration practice for the Catch the Rain program.
The 845 square foot rain garden installed in June 2020 collects water from a 1300 square foot portion of the building roof. Water is directed to the garden via the existing gutters and downspouts. Due to its location next to the building and the surrounding impervious surfaces, an atrium drain was installed to direct overflow water to the existing storm sewer system. This rain garden will collect and clean approximately 68,536 gallons in one year of typical rainfall. Rain water that would have otherwise been piped directly to the existing storm sewer system with no treatment. In boroughs like West Grove, where open space is limited to do larger projects, smaller green infrastructure practices like rain gardens can help alleviate flooding and other stormwater related issues like water pollution.
West Grove rain garden in action during a 2.7 inch rain event in July 2020, less than two months after it was installed.