The Stratford Rain Barrel Study A joint project of Insurance Bureau of Canada and the Town of Stratford, P.E.I. September 2015 W. Executive Summary Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) and the Town of Stratford, P.E.I., have successfully completed a multi-year project to assess the impact of large-scale residential use of rain barrels to relieve stress on the town’s storm and waste water systems. The Stratford town council threw its support behind the project and encouraged residents to take part. As a result, almost 100% of the 1,000 rain barrels supplied by IBC were distributed to eligible households in the community. With financial support from IBC, the municipality also conducted inspections to ensure the barrels were properly installed. This step was crucial to reducing water flow into the town’s systems and to ensuring that the project results were accurate. Project results show that rain barrels reduce the amount of water pouring into the town’s storm and waste water system during heavy rain events. The rain barrels were estimated to reduce the flow of storm water to the town’s waste water treatment plant by approximately 4.5% of its peak capacity of 4,000 cubic metres. While modest, this reduction could be enough to lower the risk of system overload during peak rain events and could reduce flooding. Many Stratford families signed up for the rain barrel project. Background The Town of Stratford and IBC joined forces three years ago to investigate whether the large-scale use of rain barrels by local residents could relieve stress on the town’s storm and waste water systems and help keep basements dry. Like many Canadian communities, Stratford, located in central P.E.I. across the Hillsborough River from Charlottetown, has been experiencing more intense and frequent rainstorms as a result of climate change. These storms are placing a burden on its storm water system. The small but growing community of approximately 9,000 is committed to sustainability; it included a climate change adaptation plan in its 2014 Official Plan. In explaining why the town was eager to participate in the rain barrel project, Mayor David Dunphy said, “Stratford is committed to adapting to the changing climate.” As part of its water management strategies, Stratford also places high importance on water conservation through reducing demand. The rain barrel program helped it meets its water conservation goals. Stratford’s Mayor David Dunphy (right) and Amanda Dean, Vice-President, Atlantic, IBC, kicked off the project. IBC, the national trade association representing Canada’s property and casualty insurers, undertook the project as part of its commitment to help Canadians adapt to the increase in severe weather events resulting from climate change. This increase in severe weather events is hurting Canadian families and businesses and has caused an increase in property claims, especially due to flooding. In referring to Stratford’s rain barrel project, Amanda Dean, Vice-President, Atlantic, IBC, said, “IBC is committed to helping Canadian communities of all sizes build resiliency to ensure they are strong, livable and healthy.” 3 This is the second rain barrel project that IBC has carried out. The first – in Wingham, Ont. – showed that rain barrels do reduce the stress on a town’s water systems. The Wingham project highlighted the need to improve the rain barrel’s design by adding an automatic slow-release valve. Between storms, these valves can help ensure that the barrels drain onto pervious surfaces, such as gardens, and not driveways, where the water would end up in the storm sewers. This barrel improvement was made for the Stratford project. Detailed Project Description Roles of partners IBC: • Supplied 1,000 rain barrels • Provided communication support that included a news conference announcing the program, two weekend distribution events, and paid media to advise residents on rain barrel use and how to store their barrel during the winter Volunteers helped distribute the rain barrels. • Supported the town’s inspections of installed rain barrels • Funded data analysis and the writing of the report Town of Stratford: • Collected daily flow rate data at waste water treatment plant • Supported barrel storage, distribution and inspection • Conducted marketing campaign to promote barrel use and water conservation • Collected data for analysis • Provided technical expertise and supported analysis Technical specifications for the Stratford storm and waste water systems Stratford has a separated storm water system and sanitary sewer system. Its waste water treatment plant has a maximum capacity of 4,000 cubic metres (4 million litres) per day. The town’s engineering department records the average flow rate at the treatment plant on a daily basis. For the purposes of this project, the engineering department shared this information with IBC. Stratford’s engineering department shared waste water treatment plant flow data with IBC. 4 Comparison of flow rate and precipitation records The waste water treatment plant’s flow rates in Stratford were compared with Environment Canada precipitation records during the study period. Since Stratford does not have a climate station, the project relied on precipitation data from stations in nearby Harrington. The flow rates and precipitation records were compared and clearly showed that increases in the daily flow rate at Stratford’s waste water treatment plant corresponded with increases in precipitation. This provided a solid basis for estimating the impact of removing rainwater from the system through rain barrel use. When analyzing data, project organizers could conclude that capturing rainwater in rain barrels would remove it from the storm water system and lower the risk of overflow. Installing the rain barrels In the fall of 2012, IBC began distributing 1,000 rain barrels to Stratford residents living in detached houses. (Condo and apartment dwellings were not part of the project.) The barrels were designed to sit under roof downspouts to catch rainwater that would otherwise flow into the water system. The barrels were designed to sit under roof downspouts to catch rainwater that may otherwise flow into the town’s storm water system. They were equipped with automatic slow-release valves that were connected to hoses so they would drain onto lawns and gardens. The valves ensured that the barrels would be emptied between rain events and ready to accept more water each time it rained. All barrels were the same dimensions. Stratford conducted a high-profile, successful marketing campaign to encourage residents to use rain barrels. With support from IBC, the town allocated staff to the project and included a small financial incentive to ensure proper installation. The residents were required to pay a $50 deposit when they picked up a rain barrel, which was refunded after town staff inspected the installation to ensure the barrels were set up properly. Of 1,000 barrels supplied, almost 100% were picked up and installed correctly in one-third of the eligible households – a major achievement for the community. The Stratford rain barrels were equipped with an automatic slow-release valve to ensure they emptied between rain events. 5 Case Studies The Reynolds family Kevin Reynolds, development officer with the Town of Stratford and proud resident of the community, was keen on the rain barrel project from the outset. “They may seem little but if every person does something little, it’s a huge change in a community,” he says. “Rain barrels absolutely slow down water flowing into the town’s waste water system,” he says. Kevin also points to the water conservation benefits of barrels. He grew up in an area where people depended on well water, which they were careful not to waste. He remembers watering the garden at his grandparents’ home from their rain barrel. “It just makes sense to use rain barrels rather than use the municipal water supply,” he says. Flowers and tomato plants were everywhere at Kevin Reynolds’ home this summer thanks to his tenant, an avid gardener who made good use of the rain barrels he installed. The father of three teens was happy to install not just one but two barrels at his place, which includes a separate apartment. “I’m not a gardener but my tenant is an avid gardener and she loves the barrels and uses them all the time,” he says. Kevin’s kids have all expressed interest in the project. His middle son, 16, who cut grass this past summer, is impressed by the number of barrels in the neighbourhood. Kevin believes that his children’s generation will be better stewards of the land and the environment, and that efforts like the rain barrel project are good examples for them. “When every person does something, it becomes a big advantage,” he says. The Callaghan family For Shawn and Patricia Callaghan, installing a rain barrel is a no-brainer. “They’re an incredible idea – simple and practical. It would be silly not to use one,” says Patricia. Patricia was pleased that Stratford took the initiative to take part in the rain barrel project. “We want to do anything that we can do to protect our water system,” she said. The Callaghans found the barrel easy to install and use. The water they collected went onto flower beds and some pots of tomatoes. And last winter, they just emptied the barrel and flipped it over. It was ready to go again come spring. The Callaghan clan on Celtic Lane in Stratford, P.E.I., love their rain barrel. “Simple and practical,” is how mom Patricia describes it. For the three Callaghan kids, ages 12, 10 and 8, the barrel was a good lesson in water conservation. “They think it’s great,” Patricia says. 6 Project Results Based on the number of rain barrels installed, project organizers calculated that the rain barrels had the capacity to reduce the flow rate by 4.5% of the peak capacity of the waste water treatment plant. This percentage reduction was then applied to the daily flow rates recorded at the Stratford waste water treatment plant for a six-year period – 2009 to 2014. The results were modest but critical. During many heavy rainfall events of 40 or more millimetres per hour – when the storm and waste water systems were most likely to be overwhelmed and overflow – this 4.5% reduction in flow rate could have been enough to protect the system and reduce the risk of flooding. Lessons Learned • The large-scale use of rain barrels by individual residents in a community has the potential to reduce the flow of storm water and protect the system from overflowing and causing flooding. • Even modest reductions in flow rate can offer protection to storm and waste water systems and prevent flooding. • Rain barrels must be designed to include a slow-release valve so they automatically drain onto pervious surfaces between storms, rather than requiring the owners to do the draining. • Allocating town staff to educate residents on how to install barrels and then to inspect the installations to ensure the barrels are set up properly greatly improves the impact of the barrels. • Educating residents about the value and proper use of rain barrels (including how to disconnect the barrels for the winter) should be ongoing to ensure all residents are aware of the benefits, even in communities with a history of engagement on sustainability issues. 7 ne rain barrel 200 litres of 9' water for your There's no . catch. ltjust catches water. 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