Boerner Botanical Garden

Boerner Botanical Garden :: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

An Aquascape Rainwater Harvesting System with a decorative stream and waterfall was installed at Boerner Botanical Garden as an alternate solution to managing stormwater to protect natural waterways. This grant project was constructed to capture stormwater run-off from the roof of the large garden building and the nearby parking lot. A section of roof run-off is stored in a 3,000 gallon sub-surface reservoir where the water is accessible to irrigate the surrounding landscape and garden beds. Additional stormwater from the parking lot and roof is directed to an Aquascape wetland filter before flowing down a stream and waterfall system into a 20,000 gallon underground reservoir, which is also used to irrigate the surrounding gardens. Bog and aquatic plants in the stream and waterfall enhance the visitor’s experience to the botanical garden.