. >> reporter: sarah bloom is the senior watershed planner with the puc which has awarded 20 -- grants to schools, art groups and parks. the main goal is to divert storm water. >> climate changes here. we will see more and more intense storms. green infrastructure is one of the many tools in our toolbox we have to manage stormwater, especially during these larger storms. >> reporter: last summer, heavy equipment ground and construction began. big storms can overwhelm the city's antiquated sewer system , backing up drains and flooding streets. one way to manage the wrong office to build special gardens where the rain soaks into the earth or is captured for reuse . at saint ann's, workers created and planted several gardens. the students helped select native plants , which will be grown in special soil. >> they will bring in specially engineered soil called bio retention soil which is a mixture of different types of compost materials and sand that allow the storm water to flow through it quickly. >> reporter: the rain that falls on the schoolyard and roof will now flow into the gardens.