Can your yard recharge groundwater?

By The Downspout · Updated Oct 11, 2026 · 1 min read

Yes, a little. Rain that soaks in stays in the ground. Paving and fast drainage send it away instead.

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Where rain goes

The Sonoma Resource Conservation District says that before development, about half of rainfall soaked into the ground. About 40 percent went back to the air through plants and evaporation. About 10 percent ran off.

Roofs, pavement and pipes change that split. More leaves as runoff.

The same guide says groundwater supplies over half the water in many parts of the county.

What a yard can do

Slow the water, spread it across planted ground, and let it sink in. The steps are in slow it, spread it, sink it.
Keep paved areas small.
Where you need a hard surface, consider pavers or pervious concrete. Pervious concrete needs soil that drains 0.5 to 3.0 inches an hour. It should sit 2 to 5 feet above the highest winter groundwater and at least 100 feet from drinking water wells.

What to avoid

Do not send runoff toward your septic system or your well.
Do not soak in water from places with oil, fuel or chemicals. Pretreat it first.
Poorly draining soil is a poor site for infiltration. The guide recommends a professional soil evaluation.

The bigger picture

Whole groundwater basins are planned by local agencies. See who manages groundwater in Sonoma County.

Sources

Sonoma Resource Conservation District, Slow It. Spread It. Sink It. Store It! A Homeowner's Guide to Beneficial Stormwater Management (2nd ed., 2015)

Checked 2026-10-11. Rules and programs change. If something here is out of date, the source above wins. Spot an error? See our corrections policy.