The City of Campbell River, in partnership with various neighboring municipalities, is promoting to residents affordable rain barrels in time for the upcoming summer season. These barrels are available at almost all local hardware and garden supply stores in Campbell River. See our  brochure for more information.

Reduce Water Consumption!
The idea behind this initiative is to promote water conservation by drawing attention to wasteful irrigation practices. Outdoor irrigation accounts for 40% of residential summer water consumption, amplified by the fact that overall summer water consumption is three times greater than in the rest of the year. 

The City hopes that by giving residents the opportunity to take responsible action by providing a practical alternative to using potable water for irrigation, this high summer consumption can be reduced. Outdoor water conservation can eliminate or delay the need for costly water system expansions. 

Mosquito Control
Mosquitoes require standing water to breed. Some species of mosquitoes have been identified as carriers of West Nile Virus. To date West Nile Virus has not been observed in British Columbia. To reduce the risk of exposure to mosquitoes, ensure that standing water is covered with a lid or screen. Optional measures that could also be considered include the addition of non-toxic larvicide controls. The larvicide can be placed in the container/rain barrel and replaced periodically through the spring and summer.

How much water can be caught?
Situated directly below your downspout, rain barrels catch and store rain water that falls on your roof. A centimeter of rain falling on an 1100 square foot roof area (the average in Campbell River) will produce about 1,145 liters of water. Since there are four gutter outflows on each roof, one rain barrel can collect approximately 258 L from one centimeter of rain.

Campbell River averages 2.3 cm of rain per week in the summer months (between May 1 and September 15). This corresponds to a possible savings of up to 593 L/week, which is enough to fill the rain barrel more than two and a half times a week. As this is still an average, even a significantly drier week can have a large impact on water savings.