Sand box all grown up

The beautiful seat you see before you is attached to a sand filer, into which rain water from a nearby roof is directed via the gutter system in the distance. After it passes through the filter (a box filled with sand with horsetail grass growing in it), it is directed to a dry stream to slow down, infiltrate into the soil a bit, and finally be released onto the sloped grass leading it into the sewer.

Confused? OK, let me explain.

Soils in Mississippi are very rich in clay. This means they shrink and swell a lot (bad for concrete construction), and water doesn't infiltrate the ground very well. Instead, the water surface-drains to the nearest sewer pipe as fast as it can, or remains standing for a very long time.

Our department has teamed up with the local history museum and the city of Starkville (the museum property owner) to design and construct a sustainable stormwater best management practices regional showcase. Husband Dear and another professor designed the grounds to contain tons of examples of ways in which stormwater can be handled in Mississippi, our students are building it bit by bit as a part of one of their classes, and little moi takes pictures, gives tours, and in general serves as a "mouthpiece" for the project.

So far, three phases of the project has been completed: a rain garden, a sand filter (above), and a new porch for the museum. The porch was not water-related, but badly needed and enhanced the grounds greatly.

Today I give you the sand filter.There will be more...