HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2014-05-07, Page 2424 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, May 7, 2014
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Relationship Manager
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519-955-3800 (cell)
david.maddocks@td.com
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Rain barrel sales a booming success
Tim Cumming
Special to the Expositor
It was an idea that came from the com-
munity and one that is becoming reality
thanks to the community.
People who were part of the commu-
nity advisory committee for the Main
Bayfield Watershed Plan recommended
rain barrels as a simple and effective way
local residents and landowners could
reduce erosion and runoff and protect
water quality by harvesting rainwater.
Three area schools and three other
local community organizations got
behind the idea through rain barrel sales.
Local people then supported their efforts
by purchasing and picking up more than
320 rain barrels.
The three schools that took part in the
recent rain barrel blitz and truckload sale
were: Goderich District Collegiate Insti-
tute (GDCI) Green Industries Class;
South Huron District High School
(SHDHS) Eco Team, Exeter; and Seaforth
Public School. The three other commu-
nity organizations to take part were:
Brucefield Community United Church;
Bayfield River Valley Trail Association
(BRVTA); and Vanastra Recreation
Centre.
The idea for improving water quality
through increased use of rain barrels grew
out of the work of the Main Bayfield
Watershed Plan Community Advisory
Committee.
"This community effort started with
the local community advisory committee
that developed the Main Bayfield Water-
shed Plan," said Hope Brock, healthy
watersheds technician with Ausable Bay-
field Conservation. "The committee rec-
ommended ways to protect and improve
water quality in the area. One of their
ideas was to get more people to use rain
barrels:'
Once rain barrels are installed, they
can hold up to 220 litres of rainwater per
storm event. This water can then be used
to water gardens, plants, lawns, and trees.
Capturing rainwater helps to conserve
clean water, protect water quality, and
can help save homeowners money. This
is very important during the hot summer
months when water consumption can
increase by 50 per cent.
"A rain barrel is a simple and effective
way for a landowner to harvest rainwater;"
Brock said. "A rain barrel can help people
to meet increased water demands with-
out adding extra pressure to municipal
drinldng water systems or private wells:'
One of the many benefits of a rain bar-
rel is that water captured inside is not
running off of land. Less runoff during a
storm means less erosion, less topsoil
loss, and less pollution reaching a storm
sewer, creek, river, or lake.
The community's work to develop and
implement the Main Bayfield Watershed
Plan is made possible thanks to financial
support from The Fred A. and Barbara M.
Erb Family Foundation as well as minis-
tries of the governments of Ontario and
Canada.
For information on the Main Bayfield
Watershed Plan visit: www.abca.on.ca/
page.php?page=bayfield-main
For information on rain barrels visit:
www.abca.on.ca/page.php?page=rain-
barrels
Seaforth Public School (SPS) Principal Cindy Hamather was at the school on Saturday,
April 26 for rain barrel pickup day. SPS was one of three schools, in addition to three
community organizations, that were part of an effort to get more people to use rain
barrels to limit soil erosion and protect water quality by capturing rainwater for later
use. The rain barrel sales were a school fundraiser but also part of a community effort
to protect water quality and quantity in the area. More than 320 local people purchase
rain barrels from one of the six community organizations during the Bayfield and Lake
Huron rain barrel blitz and truckload sale.