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Vancouver's frequent drizzles don't have to be a letdown. Make use of our rainfall by using an eco-friendly rain barrel
As you’re watering your new herb garden with treated drinking water, you might want to consider another other watering option: catching rainwater yourself and storing it in a rain barrel for later use.
The rain barrel idea is simple: stick a tank under the gutter’s downspout to catch and store the rain. This helps the environment, lowers your city water usage, and keeps your garden green during the summer months.
Vancouver started a subsidized rain barrel program several years ago, and since then they’ve sold some 3000 units. Made of dark-green recycled plastic, the barrels hold 341 litres, are easy to install, and only cost $75 (each household can buy two).
Other cities with subsidized rain barrels include Richmond, Delta (which even delivers), Langley, Maple Ridge, Mission, Prince George, while Nanaimo (and region) offers incentives to install cisterns. Keep in mind these programs change all the time so check with your local city council to see what might be available.
Even if subsidized barrels aren’t available, or you want a different size, shape or design, rain barrels are an affordable and simple way to get some eco-benefits for your home and garden:
Keep in mind that with the average Vancouverite using more than 340 litres of water a day (with much of it going to garden care), a 341 litre barrel is not going to solve our water-use problems, it’s simply one part of the effort.
Considering some stats say we over water our gardens by 2-3 times we can make our water go further by only watering as needed and following the City of Vancouver’s water saving guidelines.