Do you know where water flows after it rains? In the city, storm water flows into drainage systems that channel it directly into rivers, lakes, and oceans. Storm water runoff picks up pollutants and carries them directly to places where they can harm living things. "Rain gardens" are one way you can help. They collect storm water and allow it to soak into the soil. Patricia Pennell, founder of Raingardens dot org, says they're affordable and easy to maintain. Her organization provides free information about how to create a rain garden for your home. Research shows that rain gardens can trap up to 99 percent of the storm water that flows into them. But they don't just reduce runoff. The plants, soil, and bacteria in rain gardens help keep pollutants like heavy metals and excess nutrients out of the water supply. Pennell says they can even be designed to target specific pollutants.

Do you know where water flows after it rains? In the city, storm water flows into drainage systems that channel it directly into rivers, lakes, and oceans. Storm water runoff picks up pollutants and carries them directly to places where they can harm living things. "Rain gardens" are one way you can help. They collect storm water and allow it to soak into the soil. Patricia Pennell, founder of Raingardens dot org, says they're affordable and easy to maintain. Her organization provides free information about how to create a rain garden for your home. Research shows that rain gardens can trap up to 99 percent of the storm water that flows into them. But they don't just reduce runoff. The plants, soil, and bacteria in rain gardens help keep pollutants like heavy metals and excess nutrients out of the water supply. Pennell says they can even be designed to target specific pollutants.