RainSmart Rebates is currently a pilot program within the George W. Kuhn Drain Drainage District. This district includes all or part of 14 communities: Berkley, Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Clawson, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, Madison Heights, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak, Royal Oak Township, Southfield and Troy. Click here to see if your home is within the district. If you rent a property within the district, you can still participate in the program if the owner of the property signs the Property Owner Agreement prior to the RainSmart Rebates site assessment. For more information, please contact rainsmart@oakgov.com.

The George W. Kuhn Drain Drainage District is a combined system. Under dry weather conditions, flow is routed directly to the Great Lakes Water Resource Recovery Facility in Detroit for treatment. During heavy rainfall, flow may exceed the outlet capacity to Detroit, causing flow to be diverted to the GWK retention treatment basin where it is stored, screened, and disinfected. Given that the majority of the district is residential land use, we believe in assisting residents with the implementation of GSI features can be a cost-effective way to help an urban area manage stormwater in a changing climate.

RainSmart Rebates promotes the use of green stormwater infrastructure, which uses vegetation, soil, and natural processes to capture and slow rainwater or snowmelt as it moves across the landscape. This approach to managing stormwater allows water to percolate through the soil and utilize plant roots to filter out contaminants. In addition to reducing the amount of stormwater that enters the combined system, this can also improve water quality, increase tree canopy, native vegetation and pollinator habitat, and aid in climate resilience. This program aims to inspire residents to be a part of the solution to stormwater management by taking an active role at home. By managing stormwater runoff at home, every resident can make a difference in helping to protect the health of our waterways. Reusing water stored in your rain barrel could help you conserve water and lower your usage. The available stormwater projects (rain gardens, rain barrels, trees) all help to reduce or delay the influx of stormwater into the combined system during rain events. Every gallon of water that can be kept out of the system will account for one less gallon of water that must be treated at the retention treatment basin. This will benefit the local sewer system and the district.

A site assessment fee of $25 will be required to confirm your place in the program. It is non-refundable and indicates your commitment to the program.

Contact our staff at rainsmart@oakgov.com.

This is a reimbursement-based program where the entire upfront cost of the project is the homeowner’s responsibility. After the homeowner has been accepted into the program, completed a site assessment, received confirmation of the eligible practices, and implemented their stormwater project, they can submit documentation for reimbursement of eligible expenses through the RainSmart Rebates Reimbursement Request form. A rebate will be issued based on the project type and established rebate values.

If the upfront costs or installation of the stormwater projects are outside of your means or capabilities, we encourage you to apply for the RainSmart Rebates Equity Grant.

The goal of the RainSmart Rebates equity grant is to remove barriers from homeowners who can maintain their GSI feature but may not have the means to install the stormwater projects financially or physically. The equity grant is open to anyone in the district who self-identifies their need for assistance. The RainSmart Rebates Program will reserve 20% of the overall yearly rebate budget for the equity grant. These funds will be available to individuals on a first come, first served basis until all dedicated funds are allocated.

As part of the equity grant, the Clinton River Watershed Council will waive the $25 site assessment fee, purchase and install stormwater features at no cost to the homeowner. The $2,000 rebate ceiling still applies to all equity grant participants and an initial site assessment and Property Owner Agreement will still be required for participation. To apply for the Equity Grant, a homeowner will need to indicate their need for additional assistance on the RainSmart Rebates Application Form by simply checking a box for the equity grant. If funding is still available, a homeowner will be notified of their acceptance and asked to schedule a site assessment with the Clinton River Watershed Council. If funding is no longer available for the year, a homeowner will be notified and placed on a waitlist. The waitlist is only valid for the calendar year and the homeowner will need to reapply the following year. Participants of the equity grant will not submit a Reimbursement Request form after their stormwater project is installed.

An estimate of the maximum rebate amount will be provided when the project is approved or after the site assessment. 

The program is designed to start and end within one calendar year. Homeowners are encouraged to apply early in the year to allow for adequate time to schedule a site assessment, go through the design and review process for rain gardens (if applicable), install their stormwater projects, and submit their rebate request.

When you receive a confirmation email that identifies your eligible stormwater projects, funds are committed to your project. If the project is not completed by the end of the calendar year, those funds will be reallocated.

You may start installation after you receive an official project approval email from our program following the site assessment. Design can occur at any time, but projects installed prior to a site assessment and plan approval will not be accepted as an eligible project for reimbursement.

Yes. RainSmart Rebates participants can install several stormwater projects. All stormwater projects must be completed within the same year as your application. All properties have a maximum rebate amount of $2,000 .

Yes. All properties must be residential and within the George W. Kuhn Drain Drainage District. Each property will have a maximum rebate ceiling of $2,000.

There is no physical copy of the application available. However, you can contact rainsmart@oakgov.com to help you submit an electronic application.

To apply, fill out an application. We will review your application for eligibility and if you meet the program minimum requirements and funding remains, you will be notified of your acceptance into the program.

You will receive email notification from the RainSmart Rebates program that your application has been accepted and instructions on how to sign up for a RainSmart Rebates Site Assessment. The notification will also contain a link to the Property Owner Agreement, which you will need to review and electronically sign during the rebate request process. We cannot accept emailed or printed copies of the signed agreement.

The Property Owner Agreement specifies the general terms and conditions of the property owner’s participation in the RainSmart Rebates program.

Site assessments are usually 30 minutes but could take up to 1 hour. You must be present during the assessment. During this time, we will review the stormwater projects and answer any questions you may have. After the assessment, you will receive an email with a complete report that identifies the stormwater projects you’re eligible for.

You are not required to implement the recommended stormwater projects after the site visit. If you choose to move forward with the eligible projects, they must meet the program requirements. If you are proposing to install a rain garden, you must submit a rain garden design plan for approval prior to installation.

Projects can typically be installed between April and November, but it depends on the weather and the likelihood of frost and rain. For more guidance, please review the RainSmart Rebates schedule guideline.

Any project or portion of a project that is installed in the right-of-way must first be discussed with your local municipality.

You must install your stormwater project during the calendar year you applied. If you are not able to install your stormwater project during your application year, you will need to reapply for another year.

You are free to hire a designer or contractor for your stormwater project(s). Hiring professional help does not increase the rebate values or total property ceiling.

Yes. Depending on the supplier that you use, you will need to make sure that the proper attachments are included with the rain barrel.

We recommend raising the rain barrel on an elevated base to increase the water pressure needed for spigot use and dewatering. Without a base, barrels can settle into the ground on a soft surface like grass or dirt. We recommend purchasing 2-4 cinder blocks and placing them in the location where the rain barrel is going to be installed. The platform should be level and no taller than 18 inches.

Yes. You many have as many rain barrels as your property can handle. However, RainSmart Rebates will only reimburse you for up to two rain barrels per household.

Keep safety in mind when installing and using a rain barrel and check often for failure. A 50-gallon barrel can weigh 400 pounds when full. Rain barrels must be correctly placed in order to qualify for a rebate. Upon installation, the barrel should sit vertical on the base with no leaning or tilting; the base should be solid, stable and level on top of compacted ground; the base should extend to the edge of the barrel or beyond; and the overflow should be directed away from the foundation. If the submitted photos do not meet the minimum requirements, then the homeowner must correct the deficiencies before the rebate is approved and issued.

All rain garden projects must provide a design and planting list that meets our minimal standards for drawing, plant quantities and other program requirements. This information must be submitted in the Rain Garden Design form and approved prior to installation. Projects will not be evaluated unless the minimum standards for submission are met. RainSmart Rebates staff will advise you on necessary changes if there are issues. Here are some links to info that should be helpful as you plan your project:

• Minimum design drawing standards for projects (coming soon)
• Infiltration test instructions and recording worksheet
• Rain garden design manual
• Rain garden planting design template
• Rain garden planting design template example
• Rain garden sample designs

We require the use of plant species that are native to Michigan; however, we will allow the use of non-native species as long as at least 75% of the planted area are native. None of the non-native plants can be invasive. Examples of invasive species include yellow iris, purple loosestrife, garlic mustard, autumn olive, dames rocket, phragmites, Japanese pachysandra, miscanthus (silver grass), periwinkle, heavenly bamboo, Japanese barberry, and burning bush. “Sterile” cultivars of non-native invasive plant species are also not permitted.

Native plant nurseries.

This is a test of how fast water drains through your soil. If you plan to install a rain garden, you will need to do an infiltration test to make sure your soil can absorb the water in a reasonable amount of time. You can do this at any time as this will determine whether or not a rain garden will work in the location selected. Please use the Soil Infiltration Test worksheet to record your results.

If the soil infiltration test performed does not support the desired infiltration rate, then a rain garden may be constructed only if the existing soil is removed or amended with sand and organic compost. The proposed soil amendments must be included in the rain garden design and demonstrated by purchase of the required materials.

Apply for your rebate. Submit property owner agreement photos, receipts, and measurements as indicated in the Reimbursement Request form. We will review the submitted information and confirm your rebate amount or request additional information prior to approving the requested rebate.

Yes. The final rebate amount will be based on the total amount of eligible items listed on the receipts, up to the approved rebate amount for your project. Plants listed on the receipts will be checked against the plan and plant list that was approved and verified as installed. All receipts related to the cost of the project must be submitted, including proof of payment-in-full invoices for all work performed by professionals. When using an installation contractor, all work must be final, and all payments made in full to the contractor before a rebate can be issued. Receipts issued for cash or electronic purchases, invoices marked “paid,” copies of cancelled checks, screenshots of electronic funds transfers, or copies of bank or credit card statements (with sensitive information blacked out) are all acceptable forms of proof of payment. Please verify that submitted photos of receipts are clear and easy to read.

In general, the purchase of approved plants; materials, such as mulch, compost and stone; hardware, such as pipe and connectors; equipment rental, such as a tiller; professional design fees; and professional labor can be included as long as they pertain specifically to the project and there is proof of purchase. The purchase of tools and equipment, such as shovels, or wheelbarrows, cannot be included. If you are unsure if a purchase is eligible for reimbursement, prior to purchase, please email rainsmart@oakgov.com.

All purchases must be made after acceptance into the program. Purchases made prior to acceptance into the program will not be eligible for reimbursement. One notable exception: if you purchased a rain barrel in the 6 months prior to your application date, you may include it for reimbursement if you have a receipt that clearly indicates the date the rain barrel was purchase and the amount paid.

No, we cannot include the time and labor invested by the homeowner. You can, however, hire professionals to complete portions of the work that you do not handle yourself, such as the design of your project, or the preparation of the site and submit those receipts. Those expenses are only eligible if the project was constructed and completed.

The property owner is responsible for the long-term maintenance of the projects installed as part of the RainSmart Rebate program. The Property Owner Agreement permits access to your property, to conduct an inspection of the project. Inspection access will be limited to looking only at the RainSmart Rebates projects or other stormwater management projects installed on the property to verify that they are still in place and functioning as intended. You are expected to keep your project reasonably maintained and property functioning throughout the year and for the duration of your ownership of the property. Maintenance needs generally decrease in two or three years for planted projects.

Most stormwater projects require minimum maintenance, but there are important things to keep in mind. Visit our resources page and click on your project for more information about maintenance.