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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.
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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
334:
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
109:
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
358:. Currently, 89.5% of the surface water being used as a source is constrained because of licensing restrictions. Because of low volumes of rainfall throughout the year, an increase in rainwater harvesting could cause less water to be available to license holders that are downstream.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
52:
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),
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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.
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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
200:. They give points for obtaining certifications to buildings with rainwater harvesting technologies implemented. These credits include the following:
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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
1485:
807:
775:
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89:(CMHC) in order to aid Canadians in designing and installing rainwater capture systems that comply with these codes, regulations and bylaws.
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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
726:
155:, the province permits the use of rainwater for flushing toilets and urinals, as well as for sub-surface and below ground
18:
800:
69:
permits the collection of rainwater for non-potable uses such as toilet flushing and outdoor irrigation throughout
66:
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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
1500:
265:
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81:. The law of capture is not well defined and it varies for residential and non-domestic uses. When building a
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197:
781:
Identifying
Barriers to Widespread Implementation of Rainwater Harvesting for urban Household Use in Ontario
1079:
793:
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552:"Homepage - Water, Septic Tanks and Rainwater Harvesting Systems Canada - Clean-Flo Rainwater Management"
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702:"Low Impact Development Stormwater Management Planning and Design Guide - Credit Valley Conservation"
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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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74:
556:
Water, Septic Tanks and
Rainwater Harvesting Systems Canada - Clean-Flo Rainwater Management
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257:
42:
26:
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173:
8:
1300:
780:
785:
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is generally implemented. These cisterns can hold up to 40,000 litres of water. In the
182:
501:"Ownership of Rainwater and the Legality of Rainwater Harvesting in British Columbia"
224:
technologies for non-potable applications such as toilet flushing and process water;
765:
355:
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In areas where water is scarce, rainwater harvesting can reduce the consumption of
225:
213:
131:
122:
760:
379:
135:
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At a
Watershed: Ecological Governance and Sustainable Water Management in Canada
77:
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.
766:
Developing Capacity for Large-Scale Rainwater Harvesting in Canada
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633:"Ontario Guidelines for Residential Rainwater Harvesting Systems"
608:"Alberta Guidelines for Residential Rainwater Harvesting Systems"
253:
163:
152:
106:
70:
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,
815:
527:
366:
Rainwater harvesting can limit the disruption of natural
1094:
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are still being developed for rainwater harvesting and
390:. Rainwater harvesting also results in a reduction of
346:
While the majority of the country has not yet faced
194:
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
189:
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
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
295:
262:Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability
242:Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability
1472:
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
92:
1414:South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
22:A small rainwater harvesting tank in Quebec.
1087:
1073:
808:
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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
337:
299:
235:
204:quantity and quality controls to reduce
172:
121:
17:
724:
446:Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
342:Saskatoon's wastewater treatment plant.
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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
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789:
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1095:Rainwater harvesting in the Americas
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266:University of British Columbia (UBC)
126:The Victoria BC Marriott green roof.
776:Right to Rainwater - A Cloudy Issue
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747:
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284:. In Canada, the regulations and
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1257:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
929:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
718:
600:
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296:Potential impacts and benefits
271:
246:University of British Columbia
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1:
579:"Rainwater Harvesting | CMHC"
451:
198:Canada Green Building Council
1054:United States Virgin Islands
7:
409:
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208:, increase reuse, and stop
10:
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731:Conservative Energy Future
706:Credit Valley Conservation
436:Clean Water Protection Act
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93:Provincial property rights
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1399:Saint Pierre and Miquelon
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1029:Saint Pierre and Miquelon
947:
821:
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
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314:
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67:National Plumbing Code
23:
1501:Environment of Canada
1247:Saint Kitts and Nevis
919:Saint Kitts and Nevis
431:Provincial Government
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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
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376:stormwater runoff
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1349:Falkland Islands
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949:Dependencies and
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378:and eliminating
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226:water efficiency
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118:British Columbia
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680:on 2017-08-12
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1409:Sint Maarten
1394:Saint Martin
1301:Dependencies
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1044:Sint Maarten
1024:Saint Martin
848:
734:. Retrieved
730:
720:
709:. Retrieved
705:
682:. Retrieved
678:the original
673:
647:. Retrieved
640:the original
602:
591:. Retrieved
587:the original
582:
559:. Retrieved
555:
546:
535:. Retrieved
531:
508:. Retrieved
504:
470:
380:contaminants
372:infiltration
365:
345:
335:conducted.
332:hydrological
329:
321:
282:condensation
275:
251:
212:; efficient
192:
180:
150:
129:
111:
105:
98:harvesting.
96:
64:
51:
25:
15:
1379:Puerto Rico
1306:territories
1252:Saint Lucia
1187:El Salvador
1014:Puerto Rico
924:Saint Lucia
874:El Salvador
324:groundwater
286:legislation
278:green roofs
272:Residential
218:water reuse
214:landscaping
169:Agriculture
79:legislation
37:reduction,
1475:Categories
1374:Montserrat
1369:Martinique
1364:Guadeloupe
1162:Costa Rica
1009:Montserrat
1004:Martinique
999:Guadeloupe
854:Costa Rica
736:2016-03-29
711:2016-03-29
684:2016-03-22
649:2016-03-29
593:2016-02-02
561:2016-03-22
537:2016-03-22
510:2016-03-29
452:References
426:Irrigation
421:Stormwater
392:wastewater
354:region in
222:wastewater
210:pollutants
202:Stormwater
183:ecofarming
157:irrigation
47:irrigation
39:irrigation
35:stormwater
1447:Caribbean
1359:Greenland
1282:Venezuela
1227:Nicaragua
1197:Guatemala
1117:Argentina
1102:Sovereign
994:Greenland
909:Nicaragua
884:Guatemala
368:hydrology
140:rainwater
83:rainwater
31:Rainwater
1314:Anguilla
1262:Suriname
1237:Paraguay
1212:Honduras
1172:Dominica
1157:Colombia
1127:Barbados
959:Anguilla
894:Honduras
864:Dominica
839:Barbados
757:Archived
410:See also
362:Benefits
352:Okanagan
232:Industry
216:for rain
110:to
1344:Curaçao
1329:Bonaire
1324:Bermuda
1277:Uruguay
1217:Jamaica
1192:Grenada
1182:Ecuador
1137:Bolivia
1122:Bahamas
989:Curaçao
974:Bonaire
969:Bermuda
899:Jamaica
879:Grenada
834:Bahamas
318:Impacts
264:at the
254:cistern
153:Ontario
147:Ontario
107:Alberta
102:Alberta
1232:Panama
1222:Mexico
1202:Guyana
1147:Canada
1142:Brazil
1132:Belize
1104:states
914:Panama
904:Mexico
849:Canada
844:Belize
505:Appeal
206:runoff
71:Canada
1319:Aruba
1207:Haiti
1152:Chile
964:Aruba
889:Haiti
643:(PDF)
636:(PDF)
611:(PDF)
1384:Saba
1304:and
1242:Peru
1167:Cuba
1034:Saba
859:Cuba
583:CMHC
402:and
240:The
65:The
151:In
1477::
729:.
704:.
693:^
672:.
658:^
619:^
581:.
570:^
554:.
530:.
519:^
503:.
479:^
460:^
406:.
1088:e
1081:t
1074:v
809:e
802:t
795:v
739:.
714:.
687:.
652:.
613:.
596:.
564:.
540:.
513:.
248:.
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