Rain gardens are areas designed to collect, filter and infiltrate storm water runoff. By treating storm water as a resource, we can keep polluted water out of our streams, and keep our water sources clean. A rain garden is as simple as a depression in the ground. It collects water and allows it to infiltrate before it gets into the storm water system. Native meadow plants have deep root systems, which in this case act as conduits to get the water into the ground. Sometimes there is added stormwater storage below, to cover stormwater requirements of a specific town.