The Town of Ladysmith is looking to implement a rain barrel rebate program to aid water conservation and promote sustainability.
At a committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 12, council members discussed and recommended establishing a rain barrel rebate program starting in the new year.
The committee recommended an annual rebate budget of $7,500 and starting in 2024, the town would rebate a maximum of $75 to cover the cost of one new rain barrel at least 189 litres, manufactured from a BPA-free polyethylene material.
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“I’m pleased that a pretty raw idea moved earlier this spring became a very practical program,” said Coun. Ray Gourlay, who first recommended the idea at a committee of the whole meeting in May. “I think it will be popular and it’s definitely going to meet our objective of having that water conservation program in place.”
The program would replace the “somewhat obsolete” low-flush toilet rebate program that has been ongoing since 2008, now that “government plumbing standards are changing and the low-flow option is now the norm,” according to a staff report to the committee.
If the program passes in a council meeting, staff will notify local businesses so they can find barrel models that satisfy the requirements so they can have them in stock.
bailey.seymour@nanaimobulletin.com
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