A rain barrel is a container that collects and stores rain water that can be used as needed. Usually the barrel is connected to an eavestrough to be able to collect a larger area of rain – such as all the rain that falls on the roof of a house, shed or garage.
Rain barrels are relatively inexpensive and easy to install and maintain. Collected water can be used to water lawns, gardens and trees and to wash cars and outdoor furniture. Here are the top five reasons to get a rain barrel!
1. Free water: Everyone pays for the water that comes out of their tap, and if you have a water meter installed, the more you use, the more you pay. Rain water is free and with all that money you’ll be saving, you can order a Native Garden Kit from LEAF!
2. Better water: Rain water is actually better for your plants and vegetables. Rain water is warmer and softer than tap water and does not contain chlorine.
3. Reduces risk of flooding: During heavy rainstorms, water can accumulate around your house and seep into your basement. Large rain events can also overwhelm the sewer system resulting in flooding. By collecting water on-site, you can help reduce the risk of flooding by slowly releasing the water as you use it.
4. Protects waterways: When sewer systems become overwhelmed during a storm, sometimes untreated water is released into our waterways. Rainfall that flows over driveways, roads and other hard surfaces before entering a waterway picks up pollutants along the way that can be harmful to wildlife and vegetation.
5. Reduces strain on infrastructure: During a heavy rainstorm, fast moving and large quantities of stormwater exert a lot of pressure on our aging sewer system. Moreover, water that flows into the sewer system needs to be treated and cleaned to make potable water, so using harvested rainwater instead wherever possible is wise. It costs taxpayers money to build, operate and maintain sewer systems and water treatment facilities – reducing the strain on this system will help save money!
If you’d like to get a rain barrel, Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) has partnered with RainBarrel.ca to offer inexpensive rain barrels this spring.
TRCA has also partnered with LEAF to offer additional subsidies on trees and Edible Garden Kits for homes in the Black Creek SNAP program area. Click here for a map and more information about this project!
Michelle Bourdeau is Project Coordinator, Sustainable Neighbourhoods, at TRCA. The Sustainable Neighbourhood Retrofit Action Plan (SNAP) is an innovative pilot program led by Toronto and Region Conservation in collaboration with many municipal and community partners. The SNAP program aims to accelerate the implementation of environmental improvements and urban renewal at the neighbourhood scale.