RainSmart Rebates – Residents Reckoning with Runoff

For more than a year, CRWC has been collaborating with Oakland County Water Resources on the RainSmart Rebates program, an initiative that offers homeowners an opportunity to receive a rebate for installing residential green infrastructure at home. This year, after a period of diligent planning and the development of resources, the program began accepting applications.  

RainSmart Rebates is a two-year residential pilot program geared towards homeowners in the George W. Kuhn Drainage District. The pilot offers homeowners up to $2,000 for planting a tree, installing a rain barrel, or creating a rain garden on their property.  

Oakland County Water Resources is leading this program, and CRWC is providing support by conducting site visits, answering homeowner questions, and helping install several green infrastructure projects. 

When precipitation falls and moves over impervious surfaces, such as parking lots, it can pick up pollutants and sediments and also overwhelm the storm sewer system.  

“The George W. Kuhn Drainage District uses what’s known as a combined sewer system.” Kaleigh Snoddy, Education & Stewardship Manager, said, “This means that stormwater and septic sewage flows in the same pipes, which are treated at the Detroit Wastewater Treatment Plant in dry weather conditions.”  

In wet weather conditions, excess flows are directed to a retention treatment basin, where water is stored, screened, and disinfected before being discharged to the Red Run Drain, which has historically scored as one of the least healthy waterways in the Clinton River watershed. Reducing discharges to the Red Run and other downstream areas is a great step toward increasing the water quality scores and enhancing the health of the waterway. 

By capturing stormwater on the landscape with rain barrels, trees, and native plants and slowly utilizing it after major rain events, we prevent it from entering the storm sewer system. Capturing water on the landscape improves water quality, recharges groundwater, reduces flood risks, and protects rivers, lakes, and streams within the Clinton River watershed. 

In addition to reducing the amount of stormwater that enters the combined system, this can also improve water quality, tree canopy, native vegetation and pollinator habitat, and climate resilience.  

Kaleigh noted, “Residents have been overwhelmingly enthusiastic about capturing and retaining stormwater on their property. Many residents remember the damaging floods the region suffered in recent years, and are eager to do their part in building resilient communities.” 

Now that the program has launched, CRWC’s main role is to provide site visits, which are an important step for helping residents understand what their property is best suited for, and to understand the commitment each project will be for them. Residents have a chance to ask questions and learn from staff, and the site visit also allows staff to get a detailed understanding of what their property could look like with a new rain barrel, rain garden, or tree.  

“We take a look at downspouts around the property, good locations for trees, and check for any hazards as well as educate homeowners on calling MISS DIG and other things to keep in mind as they put in their rain barrel, tree, or rain garden,” Kaleigh said. 

CRWC has conducted over 120 RainSmart site visits so far this year and more than 400 people have applied to the program. 

Later this summer, CRWC looks forward to installing trees, rain barrels, and rain gardens as part of the RainSmart Rebates equity grant. The goal of the grant is to remove barriers for homeowners who can maintain their project but may not have the means to install the stormwater projects financially or physically and who self-identify their need for assistance.  

Author(s): Cole pachucki, Kaleigh Snoddy, Kahlan Robinson