The City of Toronto is investing an additional $240,000 in its rain barrel subsidy program, roughly doubling the funding for the initiative that began this year. The increased spending was approved by city council at the request of Mayor Olivia Chow.
Mayor Chow expressed enthusiasm for the program, citing its popularity and the benefits it provides to residents. "It's good for the flowers... it's good for your water bill – it'll go down, and you're not wasting water on top of it," she explained. The program aims to encourage residents to install rain barrels, which can help capture rainwater and prevent flooding.
The rain barrel subsidy program is part of the city's larger pilot program for storm water management on private property, which was approved late last year. The pilot program, which runs until 2029, covers features such as landscaping, and the city has already seen a strong response to the rain barrel initiative.
In fact, the first round of rain barrels sold out in just nine hours, and the city has received numerous requests from residents who want to participate in the program again. To address this demand, the city has modified the program to limit the number of rain barrels per street address to just one.
The city's share of the cost for rain barrels and downspout diverters is 80%, with the remaining 20% covered by the resident. Home Depot Canada's website lists the price of rain barrels from the city's partner, Enviro World, at over $100, but the program's dedicated page on the City of Toronto's website indicates that the subsidized cost is just $8.95 plus tax and $1 for a downspout diverter.
Councillor Stephen Holyday expressed concerns that the city's offer may be too generous, suggesting that the price charged to residents could be moderated to prevent the program from selling out too quickly. However, his warning fell on deaf ears, and the program expansion was passed with a quick show of hands.
