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Rainwater harvesting in Canada

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19: 339: 49:. Many Canadians have started implementing rainwater harvesting systems for use in stormwater reduction, irrigation, laundry, and lavatory plumbing. Provincial and municipal legislation is in place for regulating the rights and uses for captured rainwater. Substantial reform to Canadian law since the mid-2000s has increased the use of this technology in agricultural, industrial, and residential use, but ambiguity remains amongst legislation in many provinces. Bylaws and local municipal codes often regulate rainwater harvesting. 1292: 174: 123: 160:
high risk of freezing. Therefore, the province of Ontario places a strong significance on guidelines to ensure that rainwater is in a controlled temperature environment. In addition, to avoid freezing in the pipe network, the water must be properly controlled via draining and temperature controls. Various systems and scenarios have been outlined regarding overflow management, pressurization, and back-flow prevention.
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Many provinces have outlined little to no provincial property rights pertaining to rainwater. Listed below are the provinces with some provincial legislation. However, many local municipalities have bylaws outlining criteria for capture and storage containers among other articles related to rainwater
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systems. A large number of standards and regulations have been put in place regarding catchments, conveyance networks, and storage containers in Ontario Guidelines for Residential Rainwater Harvesting Systems. Since the temperature during winter months in Ontario drops below zero, rainwater is at a
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cycle contains surface water, groundwater and rainwater. The effects on the hydrological cycle would be significant if rainwater became an advantageous solution to water quality and availability. However, the effects this practice has on a watershed is still unknown and further research must be
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has a set of Rainwater Harvesting Guidelines for residential use. They are recommended for the safe design, construction and maintenance of residential rainwater harvesting systems. The guidelines provide additional detail than what is present in the current code and supports conformance
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is unrestricted and not subject to concerns of downstream water users. Rainwater is not included in the Water Act's system of prior allocation. The likely common law position does not recognize correlative rights of other users to share equitably in the common resource of rainwater.
304: 308: 307: 303: 302: 309: 114:. The Alberta Building Code and the National Plumbing Code requirements have precedence over these guidelines. In addition to the guidelines, a handbook was developed to provide broader understanding of the technical components of the guidelines. 306: 701: 185:, many farmers have implemented these systems. The uses for the rainwater harvested for agriculture includes irrigation and water for livestock. Often the water collected is redirected to a deep pit with percolation. 326:
and in turn can be used to recharge the groundwater. In the summer months of Canada, the practice can decrease the pressure on municipal systems and is therefore seen as a great "green" alternative for water supply.
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Multiple organizations and companies have developed in Canada to provide education, technology, and installation for rainwater harvesting. These include the Canadian Association for Rainwater Management (CANARM),
305: 138:. Effectively, rainwater belongs to no one and everyone until it is captured. While landowners do not have a property interest in water until it is captured, their right to harvest 57:(CMHC), and CleanFlo Water Technologies. CANARM is an association that prioritizes education, training and spreading awareness for those entering the rainwater harvesting industry. 268:
makes use of various rainwater capture methods for plumbing, heating and cooling. Data is not available on the number of buildings or businesses implementing rainwater harvesting.
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where the temperature in the winter months reaches well below freezing, cisterns are placed in temperature controlled areas such as an underground parking lot or a basement. The
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storage system, it is required that the design follows closely to the provincial codes and municipal bylaws. Multiple publications and reports have been developed by the
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Similar to agriculture, rainwater harvesting in Canada for industrial purposes is not widely used. If rainwater is utilized for industrial or commercial uses, a large
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is a rating system that is recognized as the international mark of excellence for green building in 150 countries. This includes Canada as recognized by the
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is becoming a procedure that many Canadians are incorporating into their daily lives, although data does not give exact figures for implementation.
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issues, it is believed that the potential for this to happen will increase because of climate change. However, one example of these issues is the
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Rainwater harvesting for residential use can be achieved easily by placing a tank underneath a downspout outside the home. There is also use in
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to reduce the burden on municipal water supply and wastewater systems; and recycled content for use in rainwater harvesting materials.
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CAN/CSA 128.1 Design and Installation of Non-Potable Water Systems/Maintenance and Field Testing of Non-Potable Water Systems
1403: 1038: 1458: 1446: 1436: 1383: 1353: 1033: 1490: 1480: 1408: 1043: 726: 338: 197: 155:, the province permits the use of rainwater for flushing toilets and urinals, as well as for sub-surface and below ground 1378: 1251: 1186: 1121: 1013: 923: 873: 833: 1373: 1368: 1363: 1161: 1079: 1008: 1003: 998: 853: 793: 1358: 1281: 1226: 1196: 1116: 993: 908: 883: 1495: 1313: 1261: 1236: 1211: 1171: 1156: 1126: 958: 893: 863: 838: 1343: 1328: 1323: 1276: 1216: 1191: 1181: 1136: 988: 973: 968: 898: 878: 1231: 1221: 1201: 1141: 1131: 913: 903: 843: 1318: 1206: 1151: 963: 888: 435: 69:
permits the collection of rainwater for non-potable uses such as toilet flushing and outdoor irrigation throughout
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In Canada, rainwater harvesting used as a means of irrigation is not popular among farmers. Because of a rise in
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In Canada, rainwater harvesting has the potential to impact environmental flows and downstream water users. The
371: 173: 81:. The law of capture is not well defined and it varies for residential and non-domestic uses. When building a 1072: 781:
Identifying Barriers to Widespread Implementation of Rainwater Harvesting for urban Household Use in Ontario
552:"Homepage - Water, Septic Tanks and Rainwater Harvesting Systems Canada - Clean-Flo Rainwater Management" 430: 74: 500: 702:"Low Impact Development Stormwater Management Planning and Design Guide - Credit Valley Conservation" 677: 399: 257: 42: 26: 639: 1300: 770: 122: 244:
uses rainwater capture methods, which helped it to become the first LEED Platinum building at the
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The main source of water in the region is from mountain runoff, such as the Okanagan Mountain.
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Water, Septic Tanks and Rainwater Harvesting Systems Canada - Clean-Flo Rainwater Management
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is generally implemented. These cisterns can hold up to 40,000 litres of water. In the
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technologies for non-potable applications such as toilet flushing and process water;
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In areas where water is scarce, rainwater harvesting can reduce the consumption of
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At a Watershed: Ecological Governance and Sustainable Water Management in Canada
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and municipal bylaws. However, a majority of the provinces lack any significant
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or other natural surface/subsurface water resources available near sites for
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for irrigating plants naturally, providing a cooling system, and regulating
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A rainwater harvesting pool for irrigation and water for livestock.
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Developing Capacity for Large-Scale Rainwater Harvesting in Canada
551: 337: 299: 235: 172: 121: 17: 633:"Ontario Guidelines for Residential Rainwater Harvesting Systems" 608:"Alberta Guidelines for Residential Rainwater Harvesting Systems" 1068: 789: 73:. The right to harvest and use rainwater is determined by the 528:"CANARM.org - Canadian Association for Rainwater Management" 727:"The Advantages and Disadvantages of Rainwater Harvesting" 41:, laundry and portable toilets. In addition to low costs, 527: 366:
Rainwater harvesting can limit the disruption of natural
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are still being developed for rainwater harvesting and
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While the majority of the country has not yet faced
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Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
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Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
1299: 1100: 947: 821: 473:. Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation. 2013. 638:. Rainwater Harvesting Task Group. Archived from 441:Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability 370:by reducing impervious cover, increasing on-site 262:Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability 242:Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability 33:can be used for a number of purposes including 398:demand. In addition, it reduces the burden on 292:(water used for laundry, showers and sinks ). 164:Applications of rainwater harvesting in Canada 1080: 801: 134:appears to be common property subject to the 8: 1414:South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands 22:A small rainwater harvesting tank in Quebec. 1087: 1073: 1065: 808: 794: 786: 771:Cisterns and Safe Drinking Water in Canada 374:, reducing or eliminating pollution from 87:Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation 55:Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation 382:. Furthermore, it can reduce the use of 204:quantity and quality controls to reduce 457: 446:Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation 342:Saskatoon's wastewater treatment plant. 816:Rainwater harvesting in North America 670:"LEED points for Rainwater Harvesting" 471:Collecting and Using Rainwater at Home 1486:Water supply and sanitation in Canada 7: 1095:Rainwater harvesting in the Americas 696: 694: 663: 661: 659: 626: 624: 622: 620: 573: 571: 522: 520: 494: 492: 490: 488: 486: 484: 482: 480: 465: 463: 461: 266:University of British Columbia (UBC) 126:The Victoria BC Marriott green roof. 776:Right to Rainwater - A Cloudy Issue 14: 284:. In Canada, the regulations and 1290: 1257:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 929:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 296:Potential impacts and benefits 246:University of British Columbia 1: 579:"Rainwater Harvesting | CMHC" 198:Canada Green Building Council 1054:United States Virgin Islands 208:, increase reuse, and stop 1517: 731:Conservative Energy Future 706:Credit Valley Conservation 436:Clean Water Protection Act 93:Provincial property rights 1432: 1399:Saint Pierre and Miquelon 1288: 1029:Saint Pierre and Miquelon 1419:Turks and Caicos Islands 1049:Turks and Caicos Islands 725:Rinkesh (10 June 2013). 45:is useful for landscape 1334:British Virgin Islands 979:British Virgin Islands 668:Resources, Rainwater. 631:Despins, Christopher. 400:municipal water supply 343: 314: 249: 178: 127: 67:National Plumbing Code 23: 1501:Environment of Canada 1247:Saint Kitts and Nevis 919:Saint Kitts and Nevis 431:Provincial Government 341: 312: 239: 176: 125: 75:provincial government 21: 1491:Irrigation in Canada 1481:Rainwater harvesting 499:Duke, Katie (2014). 388:landscape irrigation 258:Greater Toronto Area 43:rainwater harvesting 27:Rainwater harvesting 1424:U.S. Virgin Islands 1267:Trinidad and Tobago 1112:Antigua and Barbuda 934:Trinidad and Tobago 829:Antigua and Barbuda 674:Rainwater Resources 1496:Aquifers in Canada 1177:Dominican Republic 869:Dominican Republic 759:2018-07-17 at the 416:Water Conservation 404:wastewater systems 344: 315: 250: 179: 128: 24: 1468: 1467: 1062: 1061: 951:other territories 376:stormwater runoff 310: 1508: 1389:Saint BarthĂ©lemy 1349:Falkland Islands 1294: 1089: 1082: 1075: 1066: 1019:Saint BarthĂ©lemy 949:Dependencies and 822:Sovereign states 810: 803: 796: 787: 741: 740: 738: 737: 722: 716: 715: 713: 712: 698: 689: 688: 686: 685: 676:. 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Index


Rainwater harvesting
Rainwater
stormwater
irrigation
rainwater harvesting
irrigation
Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation
National Plumbing Code
Canada
provincial government
legislation
rainwater
Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Alberta

British Columbia
law of capture
rainwater
Ontario
irrigation

ecofarming
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
Canada Green Building Council
Stormwater
runoff
pollutants
landscaping
water reuse

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