Water-related damage to home and building foundations can be extremely expensive. RainReady improvements—such as re-grading yards, replacing lawns, disconnecting sump-pumps and foundation drains from the sewer system, and using water and energy efficient appliances—can often be less expensive than expanding or replacing municipal pipes and storage facilities. Tree plantings, landscaped sidewalks, natural ponds and wetlands, urban gardens, and protected land alongside lakes, rivers, and streams brings additional recreational and wildlife benefits.
Public investment should be supported by long-term, dedicated financing that reflects the cost of these improvements. Ideally, these would be part of residents’ regular utility bills and would be regularly reported on, so that residents could judge for themselves the benefits of the investments. New financing strategies that encourage property owners to adopt Rain Ready practices are being developed, particularly around stormwater funding. In particular, a growing number of local and state governments provide loans or funding through grant programs (PDF).
In addition, states and municipalities can adopt policies and regulations that reduce long-term flooding and drought risks, such as requiring that all new development or re-development in the community includes a stormwater collection system.