Raleigh: Braxton Court Visit 2
Returning to the Braxton Court site, we met with a neighboring couple looking to install a cistern and rain garden for rainwater harvesting. With the assistance of the City of Raleigh's Rainwater Rewards Program, the homeowners received 75% reimbursement for their cistern and rain garden installation project.
Cistern
The homeowners had a rain barrel on one corner that was undersized and often overtopped after heavy storm events. A 500-gallon cistern was installed in its place, along with a pump, control box, and two lines of irrigation. One irrigation line was used as a passive drawn down device to gradually drain the tank over time. The other line stretches across a small garden bed parallel to the house with multiple sprinkler heads.
Rain Garden
On the other side of the home, a rain garden was installed to efficiently capture and manage rainwater runoff from the roof. The garden covers 172 square feet and boasts a ponding depth of 9 inches, capturing 50% of the roof volume of water from the downspouts.
To ensure optimal water absorption and filtration, the soil was amended to a depth of 18 inches below the ponding depth. Any overflow is managed by a weir made from existing stone that was piled by the side of the house.
The garden was also planted with native pollinator-friendly plants suitable for rain gardens. These include purple and green-headed coneflower, ferns, dwarf Joe Pye weed, and iris creating a vibrant and sustainable habitat for local wildlife.
This rain garden not only enhances the beauty of the landscape but also plays a crucial role in sustainable water management, reducing runoff and promoting groundwater recharge.
Growing More Than Rain Gardens
Part of our mission is to provide a apprenticeship workforce development program for NC students. We were pleased to have 5 teachers and almost 30 students from Millbrook High School come out to finish out our first student program by assisting in installing a cistern and rain garden. Each student received a certificate of completion and a $220 stipend for full attendance and completion of the program.
To learn more about our Growing More Than Rain Gardens program click here!
