These two large rain gardens are 19 square meters each. They will drain the entire roof of the building in addition to the parking spaces.
More information to come.
The City of Waterloo is also committed to better menagement of storm water. In Septembre 2020, the City had a water garden set up at the Générations Park. It collects the rainwater that falls in the park where the popular BMX track and bobsleigh training area are located. The water garden also absorbs snow melt water.
The water directed in the rain garden previously flowed directly into Park Avenue.
The City had been planning the project for two years. Three master’s students in environment at the University of Sherbrooke have proposed to built a rain garden in that area to control rain water.
Mr. Steve Bernard’s rain garden has an area of almost 8 square meters. All the work in his rain garden, including the excavation and the purchase of the plants, will have cost him $ 1 925. He will therefore receive a grant of $ 750 from the City of Waterloo as part of the Smart garden program, reducing his bill to almost $ 1 176.
The Smart garden program allows citozens of Waterloo to obtain a 50 % reimbursement of the costs of developing a smart garden, upt to a maximum of $ 750.
Building a rain garden takes work, says Marilou Asselin., but it’s not rockey science, she points out. ”It was much easier than I imagined at the beginning”, says the yound women who lives with her partner in their house at the end of Southern Street. ”It took me bout three hours to research and read about water gardens. Then I visited the jardinsintelligents.org web site. It’s a good toll that helped me prepare well.”
Mrs. Asselin built her rain garden in 2020. ”I had fun drawing the plans, unleashing my creativity, imagining the garden and landscaping it”, she explains. ”I can’t wait to see the plants in bloom next year.”
Mrs. Asselin’s water garden has an area of 11 square meters. The work and the purchase of the plants cost her $ 1,300. She has received a $650 grand from the City of Waterloo as part of the Smart Garden Development Program. Under this program, the citizens of Waterloo can obtain 50 % reimbursement of the costs of developing a rain garden on their property, up to a maximum of $ 750.
The water garden in the park on des Flandres street was created by Chambourg Waterlois Group. This park is also one of the entrances to the Chambourg bird trails. More details to come.
Bianca Duceppe and Éric Lauzon’s garden collects runoff from the road to their property. More information to come.
