RainScapes Portal Now Open; Rebates Up to $7,500 for Residents and $20,000 for Businesses Available to Prevent Stormwater Runoff

 

The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is now accepting RainScapes Reward Rebate applications for residents and businesses who take measures to reduce stormwater runoff from individual properties. County residents and companies may be eligible for refunds of up to $7,500 for residential properties and $20,000 for businesses. A Rainscape is a landscape or design technique that helps reduce stormwater runoff from individual properties and that prevents pollutants, chemicals, oils and heavy metals from washing directly into the local waterways.

Residents and companies in the cities of Gaithersburg, Rockville and Takoma Park are not eligible for the rebates.

“RainScapes are a simple, but powerful, way to improve the health of our local environment while addressing the growing impacts of climate change," said County Executive Marc Elrich. "As we see more frequent and intense rainfall, managing stormwater runoff is critical to protecting our water quality and preventing damage to our ecosystems. This program helps residents and businesses play a direct role in reducing pollution by providing financial support to make these improvements more accessible. I encourage everyone who can participate to take advantage of the RainScapes program—it is an investment in a healthier, more resilient Montgomery County for all of us.”

The annual RainScapes Rebate program budget is $610,000. Nearly $410,000 is still available on a first-come, first-served basis. The program is funded under the Water Quality Protection Charge (WQPC). All property owners in the County (outside of the cities of Gaithersburg, Rockville and Takoma Park), including businesses, HOAs and nonprofit organizations, pay the WPQC. Residents can reduce their WPQC charge by having a stormwater management practice on their property if they apply for a WQPC Credit.

DEP offers rebates for six types of RainScapes projects:

• Green Roof—treat the first inch of rainfall before it can reach the ground and hold special soil and plants.
• Pavement Removal—reduce the hard surfaces that add to stormwater runoff.
• Permeable Pavement—allows stormwater to seep into the ground while maintaining a durable surface for cars and people.
• Stormwater Garden type: Conservation Landscape—simplified rain gardens that slow down and soak up stormwater runoff.
• Stormwater Garden type: Rain Garden—collect stormwater runoff from hard surfaces like roofs and driveways and temporarily store runoff in a six-inch-deep puddle that drains into the soil quickly.
• Water Harvesting—above-ground containers (rain barrels and cisterns) attach to roof downspouts that store rainwater for future use.

“RainScapes improve the health of streams, lower energy costs, boost property values and create homes for plants and animals,” said DEP Director Jon Monger. “Property owners can enhance any type of property, including single-family homes, apartment buildings, condominiums and townhouses, with a RainScape, beautifying their landscape while protecting it from water damage.”

County residents can complete a RainScapes application and learn more about RainScapes on the website.

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