You can help treat stormwater runoff by installing rain gardens, native vegetation and rain barrels on your property, and we can help through our Stormwater Cost Share Program.
The Cost Share Program is funded through a $15,000 grant from the Johnson County Stormwater Management Program. We provide an additional $7,500. If you are a resident of Lenexa, you can receive 75% reimbursement for eligible expenses associated with the installation of gardens or structures that help reduce stormwater pollution. These funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
What qualifies?
Projects that are eligible for reimbursement include:
- Rain gardens
- Rain barrels and cisterns
- Native plantings
- Permeable pavers
Learn about native plants and rain gardens
What is the maximum reimbursement?
You can be reimbursed 75%, with a maximum reimbursement is $110 for rain barrels, $225 per native tree and a total project maximum of $1,500.
Two options are available to sign up for the 2024 Cost Share Program. You can either download a copy of the application, print it and mail it in to us or complete an online form that is emailed to us immediately.
General Cost Share Application(PDF, 2MB)
Rain Barrels Application(PDF, 2MB)
Apply for the Cost Share program
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, lawn and garden watering account for nearly 40 percent of total household water use during the summer. Rain barrels and cisterns provide a consistent supply of clean, fresh water for outdoor use, free of charge.
Rain barrels come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and styles to suit your landscape and are eligible for reimbursement through the Cost Share Program.
Rain barrels typically provide about 55 gallons of storage capacity and are commonly placed above ground near the source of the rainwater.
A cistern can be an above-ground tank that holds a few hundred gallons of water near the source of the rainwater or a larger underground tank that could hold up to many thousands of gallons of water where the rainwater is piped to the cistern.
Water collected in a rain barrel or cistern would normally pour off your roof directly or flow through roof gutter downspouts and become stormwater runoff. Depending on your yard, this runoff can travel onto paved surfaces and eventually into a storm drain, which drains straight to freshwater bodies like creeks and streams. Saving water not only helps protect the environment, it saves money and energy by decreasing demand for treated tap water. Diverting water from storm drains also decreases the effects of runoff to streams, preventing pollution and protecting water.
Rain barrels are relatively simple and inexpensive to construct and sit conveniently under residential gutter downspouts. A rain barrel is composed of a 55-gallon drum, a vinyl hose, a spigot, PVC couplings and a screen to keep debris and insects out.
Where to buy
We occasionally host rain barrel building classes through Lenexa Parks & Recreation, but if you don’t want to wait for the next class, supplies are readily available. Hardware stores and garden centers are likely bets to find parts or whole kits for rain barrels. Online sources carry rain barrels as well.
You can use different types permeable pavers for walkways, patios and even driveways. They're also reimbursable through Lenexa's Cost Share Program.
Permeable pavers are designed to allow water to seep between the pavers into a crushed aggregate reservoir underneath. Water stored in the crushed aggregate will then soak into the ground, reducing runoff from your property.
Permeable pavers are available at many home supply stores and online retailers.
They are a great option for building a patio or walkway.