The Town of Coaldale is implementing a rain barrel rebate program. (Photo 74256568 © Igor Yegorov | Dreamstime.com)

By Justin Goulet

Rain barrel rebate program approved by Coaldale Council

May 17, 2024 | 11:30 AM

COALDALE, AB – Residents in a southern Alberta town will soon be able to benefit from a rain barrel rebate program.

During its meeting on Monday, May 13, 2024, Coaldale Council voted unanimously to implement the program. It will provide residents and businesses with a 50 per cent rebate on the purchase of a rain barrel, to a maximum of $50 per barrel.

Officials say the decision was made to conserve water ahead of any mandated restrictions that may or may not be imposed by the City of Lethbridge later this summer.

The Town of Coaldale is reliant on the City of Lethbridge for its water supply, as noted by Coaldale mayor Jack Van Rijn earlier this year.

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“As a Council, we determined that if we’re going to ask [Coaldale] residents to reduce their water consumption this summer, it’s incumbent on the Town to lead by example and ‘walk the walk’ – even before any compulsory restrictions come into effect,” Van Rijn says.

“So in keeping with the City [of Lethbridge], the Town is also going to implement a number of short-term water conservation measures including cutting back in how often we wash the outsides of Town vehicles; adjusting street sweeping practices to reduce water use; flushing hydrants only as needed for health and safety requirements; and immediately reducing the irrigation of Town parks and greenspaces by 10 per cent.”

Rebates for the newly-implemented rain barrel program will be limited to one barrel per residence. They will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis until a designated rebate fund of $15,000 has been depleted.

Rebates will be issued, to both property owners and renters, in the form of a credit on residential and non-residential utility bills. Proof of purchase in the form of a receipt will be needed as part of the application process.

Officials note that funding for the program will come from cost savings generated through the implementation of other water conservation measures, including reductions in irrigation.

“As per the Town’s Water Supply Agreement with the City [of Lethbridge], whenever the City deems it necessary to encourage voluntary or impose compulsory restrictions on water usage, the Town is required to do the same,” says Jonathan Wensveen, Coaldale’s Manager of Government Relations.

“Should the City impose restrictions this summer, Coaldale will follow suit and allocate some of the savings generated from using less water on irrigation to funding for rain barrels.”

Earlier this week, Lethbridge City Council passed first reading of an updated Water Rationing Action Plan that outlines four stages of water rationing. Each has a different water demand reduction target. The City’s Water Conservation Plan and Strategy, which includes the updated Water Rationing Action Plan, can be seen at the City of Lethbridge website.

Applications for Coaldale’s rain barrel rebate program will open June 1 and can be submitted at the Town website or in-person at the Town Office.

READ MORE: City of Lethbridge agrees to cut water usage by 10 per cent for potential drought scenario

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