Managing stormwater on your property

You can install tanks to collect rainwater for gardening. The Council sells rainwater tanks for $125. A water tank can help:

• reduce water costs,
• keep your garden green during water restrictions,
• reduce how much water goes into the public network.

Water runs off hard surfaces, the more hard surfaces you have - the harder it is for water to drain away. You could think about:

• using lawn, decking, and semi-porous paving like stones instead of concrete,
• using grass or bark mulch strips next to hard surfaces to absorb run off,
• diverting stormwater from paths onto free-draining garden areas,
• installing a rain garden, pumice wick, or swale.

A swale is a wide, gently sloping, planted channel that captures water, letting it filter into the soil. Choose tough plants that can cope with dry periods and wet ground. Native plants like mānuka, carex grasses, flaxes, and hebes are good choices.

A rain garden also slows water down and lets it filter through layers of soil and mulch. Native flaxes and grasses do well in rain gardens.

A pumice wick is dug into the ground and has layers of pumice, newspaper or mesh, and dirt. It helps water filter down and away from your property.

A soak pit is a hole with a porous lining that lets water soak into the ground.

Note: Swales, pits and wicks can be complex and might need a consent. It's best to talk to us before you start - you might be making a problem for your neighbours without realising.

Trees can reduce the amount of rainwater hitting the ground. Trees catch rainwater and hold it in their canopies, lettting it evaporate from there. Keeping mature trees and planting new trees can help.

Masterton is built on a network of streams, this means lots of people have waterways on their property. We rely on everyone taking care of their part so our streams stay clear and healthy. You should:

• Add native plants - these create shading which helps keep the water cool and enhances wildlife habitat. They also hold back rainfall and soak water into the ground, they make banks more stable, and sustain the stream during the dry season.
• Slow the flow - a few well placed rocks or logs can make a big difference to the health of a stream, as they prevent erosion by slowing down streamflow, help oxygenate the water, and create habitat, all of which are good things for aquatic animals. Retaining walls do the opposite, making the flow higher and faster.
• Clear the way - keep the stream free from obstructions such as garden waste and fallen trees, these create flood risks and may prevent wildlife from swimming upstream.

A well planted and managed stream can bring a wide variety of life into your garden, from iconic native New Zealand birds such as the tui or the kereru to the tiniest fresh water shrimps. You and your garden stream are connected to our ocean through the stormwater system, other ways to take care of it are:

• Watch what goes down the drain - the storm drains that you see on our streets all empty into our waterways so when you're doing things like cleaning your car, washing paintbrushes, or applying garden chemicals, do it somewhere that the water or runoff can't escape to the drain.
• Be a tidy Kiwi - litter and rubbish can clog waterways and be dangerous for the creatures living in our streams. Put your rubbish in a public bin or take it home, secure loads of rubbish properly and be careful that flyers don't escape from your letterbox.
• Pick up after your pooch - many people now take a bag to pick up their dog’s poo. That is so much better than leaving it to be washed into the waterway where it would add nutrients that promote weed growth.