Helping the environment by harvesting water from the air. by Alan Pfiffer,
originally published in the Fall '09 Villager

“While people on the West Coast may be gradually learning of the benefits of rain barrels, drier climates can be completely dependent on this method of water gathering.”

There’s a growing awareness of taking advantage of what nature provides for us. With water becoming a more expensive utility, and shortages making it a scarcer commodity, people are looking for alternatives. Now people are turning to rain barrels for collecting water. Rain barrels
are water tanks designed to collect runoff rain water for personal use. The harvested water can have a variety of purposes. Although commonly used for watering gardens, it can also be used for flushing toilets, and in washing machines. It can even be used for drinking, provided the necessary
precautions are taken.

Rain barrels have numerous benefits. They reduce people’s dependency on municipal water supplies, store water during dry seasons, and help keep a city’s water system from becoming overwhelmed.

“During peak flows, the discharged water can cause erosion and habitat destruction downstream,” says Brianne Czypyha, Environmental Science Officer with the Capital Regional District, about the impacts of heavy rainfall in an urban area. ”Using rain barrels can help to protect watersheds and our streams and creeks by reducing the volume of water entering the storm water system.”
Czypyha points out a number of other environmental benefits of rain barrels.
“Using a rain barrel also protects water quality by preventing contaminants from roofs from entering waterways,” says Czypyha, adding that the barrels reduce the strain on the natural water system. “When collected rainwater is used on lawns and gardens, it helps to recharge aquifers and
groundwater supplies.”

Reducing the impact of rainfall on our city’s storm water system is particularly important in Victoria, with its aging sewer system.
“In cases where roof leaders are connected to the sanitary sewer system, rain barrels can help to reduce inflow to the sanitary sewer systems during rainfall events,” says Czypyha.

Our neighbours in Seattle have made a lot of strides in promoting the use of rain barrels. Seattle subsidizes anyone buying rain barrels, greatly helping convert the city’s methods of water usage. According to citizen advocate Freya Keddie, Victoria needs to follow that city’s example by taking similar initiatives.

“Victoria Councilor Phillippe Lucas has proposed an at cost rain barrel program, which would help with Victoria’s storm water problems,” says Keddie. “I’d also like to see a buying co-op for cisterns.”

While people on the West Coast may be gradually learning of the benefits of rain barrels, drier climates can be completely dependent on this method of water gathering. Lynn Plummer of the Mansfield Shire Council in Mansfield, Victoria, Australia, says virtually all houses in the country’s
rural areas utilize rain barrels out of necessity.
“The area I live in only has town water provided to houses within about three kilometres of the town centre,” says Plummer. “All other houses in the district rely on tank water.”

Plummer adds rain barrel usage is common even in Australia’s larger urban centres, with growing pressure for more people to make the transition away from city water supplies.
“Even when I lived on the outskirts of Melbourne I had tank water for my total household use,” says Plummer, noting the rain barrels maintained a generous year-round water supply. “We even managed on 20,000 gallons for a household of four.”

For those who have only known Canada’s plentiful natural resources, it is hard to imagine Australia’s water situation. But for Plummer, it’s a part of everyday life.

“Victoria [Australia] has been in drought for 12 years now and water shortage is becoming a huge issue,” says Plummer. “Most areas have some form of water restrictions in place at the moment.”

There are potential concerns with harvesting rain. Although rain starts out as a clean substance, as it travels through the sky it collects airborne particulates. It gathers even more pollutants when it hits the ground, particularly off certain roofing material. For drinking water or personal use, most cities require the installation of a filtration system.

Those wanting to install a rain barrel must first find one that suits their needs. A 42-gallon drum found at a hardware store goes for about $130. Next, they must build a level area at home underneath a downspout. Finally, the barrel can be set up along with an overflow system and water filter. Once this is done, sit back and wait for the rain to fall.

With modern concerns about our water, making use of as much rain water as possible is certainly an easy way to help out.

The Villager is Village 900's printed program guide and magazine. Village 900 radio is a non-profit campus/instructional radio station located at Camosun College in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.