The District is once again offering rain barrels to residents at subsidized rates. The program is returning in 2019 after two successful seasons. Orders are first-come, first-serve and are available while supplies last until June 26, 2019. Rain barrels can be picked up on July 4 and 6.
The rain barrel program is intended to promote water conservation and assist in managing storm water run-off.
“Rain barrels reduce stress on Muskoka’s waterways and groundwater reserves and save residents money by decreasing the amount of municipally treated water used for yard and garden purposes,” said Michael Duben, CAO at the District of Muskoka.
Residents may purchase one 240 litre rain barrel per property at the partially subsidized rate of $25. Additional rain barrels may be purchased for $46. (If you purchased a subsidized rain barrel in 2017 or 2018 you are not eligible for the partially subsidized rate in 2019.)
Muskoka residents who are connected to municipal waste water services and disconnect their downspouts from the waste water system after purchasing a rain barrel can apply to receive a fully subsidized rain barrel.
Visit www.muskoka.on.ca/rainbarrel for complete program and ordering details.
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I look at my place and always wonder about rain barrels.
First, I have no municipal services at any of my property so I pump my own water.
I almost never water any of my lawns as I leave them quite natural and they seem to tough it out ok. I have quite a lot of lawn at the resort, like about 10 or 12 acres so trying to create a “city” lawn and water it is a sort of futile effort to start with anyway.
Next, the rain barrel holds, they say, about 240 liters. Now if I want to water my one acre garden where I grow a selection of edible items I need to apply about 1300 liters per hour. It needs to be supplied at about 50 psi. and I need to water for about 10 to 12 hours per day to keep up with really dry periods. This would be over 13,000 liters in such a day and that 240 liters, delivered at gravity flow rates sure does not look like it would make any difference when I need the water.
The other aspect is that my eve troughs would overflow a rain barrel in just a few minutes during a storm so the water is going on the ground anyway, at least most of it.
In short, for me, I see no significant use for a rain barrel.
This said, I can see that for a few people with tiny water requirements, a similarly small water quantity supplied from their roof and no access to a lake or river, this might be a useful item so I applaud the effort. I would just not subsidize it too heavily and I wonder what constitutes “success” with this program as I don’t know how anyone at the municipal level would actually measure and confirm water diversion quantities or the continued use of the system over years. The program seems somewhat inefficient overall.
I suppose every little bit helps.
Kathryn, there is a link in the story above that has all the information about ordering.
Where do you go to sign up for a rain barrel?