Having grown up in and around Britain’s allotment culture, water butts (rain barrels) were part of my existence right from when I was knee-high to a nematode. Indeed, some of my earliest gardening experiences involved watching the members of this aforementioned phylum wriggle through the algae soup that languished alongside my grandfather’s greenhouse.
Whether you see yourself as the quintessential “doomsteader” or, on the up-side, an Urban Utopian Agronomist, rainwater harvesting has a lot to offer to everyone. Saving rainwater for personal use is the ultimate in practical sustainability.
Primarily, a water barrel will enable you to side-step the usual summer hose-pipe restrictions. What’s more, you will be giving your vegetable garden the bountiful gift of un-chlorinated and oxygen-rich water. I have witnessed the difference rain-water makes first-hand; I guarantee your seedlings will grow with an increased vigour.
I had been in the market for a good rain barrel for some months; I made several reconnaissance trips to the Home De[s]pot ilk of store and, to be frank, I was most disappointed with what I encountered thereabouts. Aesthetic choice was rather limited. Yes, there are those drab round barrels; for as little as $40.00* + taxes you may procure a container whose form I have, unfortunately, come to associate with toxic-waste containment. However, on the other end of the price-spectrum, there are those units that come replete with wooden casings and heavy-duty brass faucets. So, if you want a barrel that would not look out of place in the PNE showhome, you can expect to shell out a tidy sum – ordinarily, upwards of $180.00 (+ taxes.)
By far the best option is the Flexahopper barrel (see above image) offered up by Burnaby City Council. It holds 345 litres of rainwater and is made of industrial strength plastic. The good news is that Burnaby residents may buy this as a subsidized item for a very competitive $70.00 (+ taxes.) What’s more, an extra five bucks is all it takes to make one magically materialize outside your residence. They may be obtained from the City’s Yard Waste Depot located at 4800 Still Creek Avenue (west of Douglas Road). Call 604.294.7460 for more details.
Other pilot schemes that offer the Flexahopper are in place across the GVRD. Vancouver residents may pick up one for $75.00 (+ taxes) at the Vancouver South Transfer Station, located at 377 West North Kent Avenue. For those in Coquitlam, call 604-927-3500.
*A subsidized ‘radioactive-plasma container’ is available for West Van residents at the aforementioned price. Call 604 925-7101. The same deal for Port Moody residents: call 604-469-4572.
Finally, my barrel-of-choice is also sold at source by Flexahopper Plastics, 604-946-8783 – located at #12 - 7151 Honeyman in Delta (for a pricier $170.00.)
1 comment:
My company supplies the Rainwater HOG in canada. Australian technology manufactured in washington state. check out www.rainwaterhog.com for details or for its Canadian supply from www.vivodepot.com
While more costly than the aforementioned tank subsidized by the city, due to the Rainwater HOG's modular design, it is more versatile than any other system - making the options for installation and use mroe flexible - store them horizontally in between joists under floor decks, vertically along exterior walls, dual-purpose them as a thermal mass inside walls, or as a load-bearing structure outdoors - bench seating, etc. Reduce water reticulation piping by clustering tanks where you want to use the water they collect (front and backyards, etc.). Australians know all about rainwater collection and these HOGs are made with food-grade high density polyethylene with UV-stabilization and can be teamed with cross-connection kits and backflow protection for inside use for flushing toilets, doing laundry, etc. Finally, vivodepot and Rainwater HOG will assist with sizing your system to calculate your surface catchment area with local rainfall in order to optimize rainwater replacement for your water consumption. Like so many eco-ideas with the best of intentions, if the system is not designed, sized or installed properly, it may not be working effectively and you could be compromising water quality.
Options for install with the Rainwater HOG are endless because of their size and design, you can easily hide them away, but they're also pretty darn good looking and a great and easy early education tool for kids to witness conservation firsthand.
Didn't mean to brag so much about the HOG, I just think they're pretty brilliant.
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