Rain Gardens in the Metuchen High School Community

Bioretention is a method of stormwater management that collects rainwater from various surfaces into engineered depressions. These sunken areas allow rainwater from rooftops, sidewalks, streets, and more to collect into a soak. The collected water is filtered into the ground or released through underdrains. 

Rain gardens are a small-scale form of bioretention that capture dirty runoff water during storms and allow it to soak into the ground. Before setting into the ground, the water is filtered through different plants, soil, sand, and/or gravel. Not only do rain gardens provide a beautiful landscape, but they also serve a greater purpose of reducing runoff from properties. Runoff water is one of the leading threats to clean water in the United States. This is because runoff water picks up different pollutants such as fertilizer, oil, pesticides, and more. This water can then flow into streets, and enter storm drains, local waterways, and even the ocean. To reduce the risks of runoff, rain gardens collect runoff water and filter it through its vegetation. Temporarily holding rainwater before it is soaked into the ground provides many valuable benefits. 

Overall, rain gardens protect the environment by preventing water pollution, reducing overflow into properties or stormwater systems, naturally allowing water to soak into the ground, and more. Rain gardens are also a cost-effective way for towns and communities to manage their water drainage systems. Implementing rain gardens in different areas, especially school grounds can be very beneficial. In addition to rain gardens helping the environment, they also serve as an opportunity for students to learn about rain gardens and how to take care of them. 

Here at Metuchen High School, the Environmental Club is constantly engaging in actions to keep the school community “sustainable” according to the New Jersey Green Standards. 

Currently, Metuchen High School is home to two rain gardens, which were installed in 2017. The Environmental Club routinely cares for these rain gardens to ensure their functionality. In fact, they are in the process of planting seeds in one of the rain gardens here at the high school! Not only do the rain gardens on school grounds help beautify our school campus, but they also serve many functional purposes. For example, one purpose of a rain garden on our school grounds is to collect the dirty runoff water from the traffic circle at the front of the school. Reducing runoff water around the school makes it easier for students and faculty when walking outside, but also has environmental benefits such as allowing the water to filter into the soil and nourish the habitat of the rain garden itself. 

As a whole, rain gardens provide many benefits beyond aesthetics to the environment of various locations. Specifically at schools, rain gardens are a cost-effective way to deal with stormwater management. At Metuchen High School, the Environmental Club takes advantage of using this technique as a learning opportunity to take care of rain gardens while serving the greater purpose of keeping our school environment healthy.