RainSmart rebates for some in Birmingham

Birmingham residents who live within the George W. Kuhn Drainage District are eligible for up to $2,000 green stormwater infrastructure rebates through a RainSmart Rebates pilot program through the Oakland County Water Resources Commission office.

This new initiative by the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s office offers up to $2,000 per property in rebates for the installation of rain gardens, rain barrels and trees to eligible residents over the next two years.

Rebate funds may not be applied to projects completed in the past, and will be allocated to new installation projects throughout 2024 and 2025 on a first-come, first-served basis until all of the allotted money is spent. Applicants may follow a step-by-step process to implement an approved project to be eligible for the one-time rebate over the next two years.

The George W. Kuhn Drainage District serves all or part of 14 communities, including Birmingham. The primary goals of the RainSmart program include fostering awareness about stormwater management and promoting environmental stewardship. Green stormwater infrastructure manages rainwater utilizing vegetation, soils and natural processes to capture and slow rainwater or snowmelt as it moves across the landscape. This approach allows water to percolate through the soil and utilize plant roots to filter out contaminants. In addition, instead of letting the water flow into storm drains, techniques such as rain gardens, rain barrels, and trees filter and temporarily store the water to reduce the amount of stormwater from entering the drainage district’s underground pipes that handle both sewage and stormwater.

In Birmingham, the George W. Kuhn Drainage District spans the east section of the city, approximately south of Derby and east of Adams. Residents may view a map and check to see if they qualify at HYPERLINK "http://www.oakgov.com/rainsmart"OakGov.com/RainSmart.

“We will work to expand this program to other areas of Birmingham in the future,” said Birmingham Planning Director Nicholas Dupuis. “We are excited to be part of this pilot program and hope the community will take advantage of the opportunity to reduce the amount of stormwater that enters the combined sewer system while improving water quality and climate resiliency.”

Interested residents may visit HYPERLINK "http://www.OakGov.com/rainsmart"OakGov.com/rainsmart to learn more and submit their application.