How can you educate clients about sustainable stormwater management?

1 Explain the problem

Before you propose any solutions, you need to explain the problem that sustainable stormwater management aims to address. You can use simple and clear language to describe how conventional stormwater systems, such as gutters, pipes, and ponds, can create environmental and social issues, such as erosion, habitat loss, water contamination, and urban heat island effect. You can also use examples from your local context to illustrate how climate change, urbanization, and land use changes have increased the frequency and intensity of storm events, and how this affects the performance and resilience of stormwater infrastructure.

2 Show the benefits

Once you have established the problem, you can show your clients how sustainable stormwater management can offer multiple benefits for their projects and the surrounding communities. You can explain how techniques such as rain gardens, bioswales, permeable pavements, green roofs, and rain barrels can mimic natural hydrological processes, such as infiltration, evaporation, and transpiration, to reduce the volume and velocity of runoff, and filter out pollutants and sediments. You can also highlight how these techniques can enhance the aesthetic, ecological, and recreational value of outdoor spaces, by creating diverse and attractive landscapes, providing habitat and food for wildlife, and offering opportunities for education and engagement.

3 Address the barriers

While sustainable stormwater management has many advantages, it also faces some barriers that may discourage your clients from adopting it. You need to anticipate and address these barriers, such as cost, maintenance, regulations, and perception, and provide factual and relevant information to overcome them. For example, you can show your clients how sustainable stormwater management can lower the initial and long-term costs of stormwater infrastructure, by reducing the need for large and complex pipes and ponds, and by saving water and energy. You can also explain how proper design, installation, and maintenance can ensure the functionality and durability of sustainable stormwater techniques, and how you can help them comply with any local codes and standards. Finally, you can dispel any myths or misconceptions that your clients may have about sustainable stormwater management, such as that it is messy, unsafe, or ineffective, and show them examples of successful and attractive projects that have implemented it.

4 Involve them in the process

One of the best ways to educate your clients about sustainable stormwater management is to involve them in the design and implementation process. You can invite them to participate in site visits, workshops, surveys, and meetings, where you can listen to their needs, preferences, and feedback, and co-create solutions that suit their context and goals. You can also provide them with resources and tools, such as brochures, websites, videos, and models, that can help them understand and visualize the concepts and techniques of sustainable stormwater management. By involving your clients in the process, you can build trust and rapport, and increase their awareness and appreciation of sustainable stormwater management.

5 Follow up and evaluate

After you have completed the design and implementation of sustainable stormwater management for your clients, you should not stop there. You should follow up and evaluate the performance and impact of the techniques that you have applied, and share the results and feedback with your clients. You can use various methods, such as monitoring, testing, interviewing, and surveying, to measure and document the outcomes and benefits of sustainable stormwater management, such as runoff reduction, water quality improvement, biodiversity enhancement, and user satisfaction. You can also identify and address any issues or challenges that may arise, and provide recommendations and support for future improvements and maintenance. By following up and evaluating, you can demonstrate the value and effectiveness of sustainable stormwater management, and encourage your clients to continue and expand their practices.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?