Water pollution from stormwater runoff threatens Florida’s valuable water resources. Undeveloped land covered with grass, plants, and trees absorbs rainwater. As Florida continue to grow, more of this land is covered with hard impervious surfaces such as roads, roofs, and parking lots. Water from rain and irrigation is unable to move through these hard surfaces. Instead the water runs off, picking up pollutants along the way. This polluted water runs into our stormwater drains and to stormwater ponds and other waterbodies.

Did you know your own backyard can help protect Florida’s water from pollution? At the last Water Wednesday Krista Stump, Natural Resources Extension Agent in Osceola County, shared methods and tools for homeowners known as Low Impact Development (LID). LID tools, including rain gardens, rain barrels, and permeable pavement, aim to mimic natural processes to hold water on site and filter out pollutants. You can use these simple tools in your own backyard to minimize stormwater runoff and protect Florida’s water.

To read more Krista’s blog articles, please click here.

Watch the Water Wednesday video to learn more:

For more information about Low Impact Ddevelopment, read Low Impact Development: Rain Gardens and Rain Barrels.

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