Conserving Rainwater with Rain Barrels

Windsor's flat topography and history of flooding basements has resulted in the Windsor City Council approval of a rain barrel program to reduce the amount of storm water infiltrating the municipal sanitary sewer system. Using rain barrels to catch rainwater will help slow the flow of runoff water from roofs to sewers, and will reduce the peak flows into the sewer system. "Having the rain from the roofs...caught in rain barrels reduces basement flooding, and results in less rainwater being treated at the treatment plant which saves costs and energy," explains Mario Sonego, P. Eng, Chief Building Official/City Engineer. Michael Duben, General Manager of Community and Protective Services, says, "We will be offering free rain barrels to each homeowner so that the water can be used in the garden. The new high tech barrels are airtight and easy to use, plus they will assist in reducing water charges for residents." Community benefits include reducing basement flooding, sewer overflows, and their associated municipal water costs, and improving the water quality in the Detroit River.