Seeing a small ditch or poorly landscaped rocky area is what home buyers are startled to see when looking at new homes in Vienna. They can become an all-consuming focal point… and not in a very good way.
First off, there was a rainfall record set in 2018.
Stormwater runoff has become an issue across the country as record levels of rain have been added to meteorological logbooks almost everywhere.
And the traditional route for downspout water has been to dump at each corner of a house or be routed away in pipes or tubes of a flexible black drain pipe.
Today’s engineered solution is to build a stormwater filtration area located on the property intending to slow down the flow and allow the ground to absorb the maximum amount of water. The intended result is less water and fewer pollutants getting into the untreated stormwater system which eventually flows into the Potomac River.
The ultimate goal here is to be in compliance with the Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Act reducing runoff that flows over pavement and yard areas, picking up pollutants such as excessive nutrients, motor oils, sediment, trash, heavy metals
When builders submit plans in the Town of Vienna, there are many levels of review including a site plan showing a proposed stormwater filtration area. Since water flows downhill, geography typically dictates where the area will need to
Make it a temporary scar
New homeowners shouldn’t consider this area a “scar” on the property that they’ll have to live with, but a design opportunity to consult with a landscape architect to plant shrubs or build a stacked rock wall.
Native planting can also help maintain the soil and survive the hardship duty you have given them. Maybe a Chokeberry or Winterberry bush for added color.
Adding value to your home
Landscaping these areas will not only add visual
