HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-03-19, Page 7More than a thousand free rain
barrels will soon be made available
to Wingham homeowners to
participate in a pilot project to be
conducted by Insurance Bureau of
Canada (IBC) and the Twp. of North
Huron.
The IBC/Wingham Rain Barrel
Pilot Project will determine whether
the use of rain barrels is one
effective way of keeping basements
dry during intense rainstorms.
“We’re delighted to have
Wingham on board for this
important study,” said Mary Lou
O’Reilly, IBC’s vice-president of
Public Affairs. “This community
meets all of the necessary criteria,
including a history of sewer
overflows and flooded basements
during intense rainstorms,” she
added.
The free rain barrels, with a retail
value of $75 each, will be distributed
at the second annual Wingham
Health and Wellness Fair on May 27
at the North Huron Wescast
Community Complex.
“We are also impressed with how
readily reeve Neil Vincent and
council embraced the project and
how committed the community’s
leaders are to the township’s
adaptation to the growing reality
of severe weather,” O’Reilly
added.
Intense rainstorms, which are
occurring more frequently in many
parts of the country, including
Wingham, are widely attributed to
climate change. Typically, sewer
back-ups and flooding occur during
these periods of intense rainfall
because outdated municipal
infrastructures do not have the
capacity to handle the downpours.
This can result in damage that is
costly for homeowners,
municipalities, and the insurance
industry, as well.
“Overloading of our water and
sewer system is a growing problem
in this region, and we are interested
in anything that will prevent the type
of flooding we saw here as recently
as last fall,” stated councillor Greg
McClinchey. He also emphasized
that the rain barrel project will not
change any existing plans to improve
basic surface and sewer
infrastructure in the area.
“Today more than ever, people
want to do what they can to help the
environment. By getting involved in
this pilot project, Wingham residents
can take pride in the fact that they
are doing something tangible to help
their community and other
communities across the country that
will be following our progress with
great interest,” O’Reilly said.
The success of the pilot project
depends on the participation of
Wingham homeowners. Proper use
of the rain barrels is also an
important factor. Each barrel must
be emptied regularly by using water
collected in the barrels to water
lawns and gardens, to wash cars or
for other outdoor chores.
“A simple rain barrel seems like a
small thing,” O’Reilly noted. “But if
an entire community works together
to help prevent sewer system
overflows and, at the same time,
reduces the demand for treated water
from the township, it can make a big
difference. And if more communities
follow Wingham’s lead, the benefits
can only escalate.”
IBC and the Wingham Water and
Waste Water Facility Chief Operator
consulted with the Maitland Valley
Conservation Authority and
Environment Canada to establish
measurement criteria for the pilot.
The Twp. of North Huron has
installed a Davis Weather Station
Vantage Pro 2 to track the intensity
and temperature of rainfall around
the clock.
In addition, the station will be
used to determine how much the use
of rain barrels reduces the incidence
of sewer back-ups and overflows for
each rainfall. Because rain barrels
contribute to water conservation, the
pilot will also keep track of
reductions in the use of treated
water.
Later this month, IBC will launch
an information campaign in
Wingham with print and radio ads toencourage homeowners to take partin the pilot. Additional informationabout the pilot project is avail-able at www.ibc.ca andwww.northhuron.ca.
Insurance Bureau of Canada is the
national industry association
representing Canada’s private home,
car and business insurers. Its
member companies represent nearly95 per cent of the property andcasualty (P&C) insurance market inCanada. The P&C insuranceindustry employs over 110,000Canadians, pays more than $6
billion in taxes to the federal,
provincial and municipal
governments, and has a total
premium base of $38 billion.
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2009. PAGE 7.Wingham chosen for innovative pilot project
Pilot project
Wingham has been chosen for a pilot project that will see households getting more than a drip
in the bucket. The Insurance Bureau of Canada is distributing 45 gallon barrels to 1,000
homes to study whether this is an effective way of keeping basements dry during intense
rainstorms. A luncheon to announce the program was held Monday. From left: North Huron
clerk-administrator Kriss Snell, councillor Greg McClinchey, Mary Lou O’Reilly, vice-president
of public affairs for IBC, reeve Neil Vincent and deputy-reeve Murray Scott. (Robertson Photographic,
Wingham)
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Special expires
March 31st, 2009
NOTICE TO DOG OWNERS
IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
MORRIS-TURNBERRY
2009 Dog Tags and licences are now available
(Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm)
at the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry Municipal Office,
41342 Morris Rd.
R.R. 4,
Brussels, ON
N0G 1H0
*** Tags can be picked up in person or ordered by telephone***
All dogs must be licensed in compliance with By-law No. 63-2004.
A copy of the complete By-law is available for review at the
Municipal Office. All dogs must be identified by means of a tag and
licence, issued for a (1) one year period by:
Friday, April 24, 2009
The fee schedule shall be as follows:
1/All Dogs (except those listed in #2)
- males, females, and spayed females $20.00 per dog
2/Pit bulls, Pit bull crosses, Staffordshire terriers $100.00 per dog
3/Kennel Licence Fee $75.00
(for a kennel of dogs that are registered or eligible for
registration under the Animal Pedigree Act)
4/Late Payment Charge $20.00 per dog
(Shall be assessed in addition to the licence fee,
if the licence and/or tag is not purchased by April 24th)
Excrement:
The By-law requires dog owners to forthwith remove excrement left by a
dog, from property other than the premises of the owner of the dog. Any
person contravening this provision is subject to a $50.00 fee.
For further information contact:
The Municipality of Morris-Turnberry
Telephone: 519-887-6137 Fax: 519-887-6424
E-mail: morris@scsinternet.com