Why a Follow-Up Now?
In our last post, we looked at why it’s time to move Beyond Green Lawns. Today, we take the next step: asking what happens when every household in our community captures rainwater instead of relying solely on treated municipal water.
The answer is powerful: millions of litres saved, greater resilience during drought, and a tangible way for every resident to contribute.
The Power of One Tote
The math starts simple. A 1,000-litre rain tote connected to your eaves-trough captures water directly from your roof. Based on local rainfall patterns and personal experience, each tote can fill two to three times per year.
- 2 fills/year = 2,000 litres saved per home
- 3 fills/year = 3,000 litres saved per home
Now multiply that by every household in town.
Community Scale: 2,482 Homes
- Low Estimate (2 fills/year):
2,482 homes × 2,000 L = 4,964,000 litres/year saved - High Estimate (3 fills/year):
2,482 homes × 3,000 L = 7,446,000 litres/year saved
That’s potable water that no longer needs to be treated, pumped, and piped — all thanks to the power of rain.
Putting It in Perspective
Numbers are abstract until we compare them:
- An Olympic swimming pool holds ~2.5 million litres.
→ Our community savings = nearly 3 pools per year. - Average indoor use in Alberta is ~100,000 L/person/year.
→ 7.4 million litres could supply about 25 families of 3 for an entire year. - Municipal water licensing is a growing concern in Diamond Valley. Every litre we conserve eases the strain on infrastructure and the Sheep River itself.
More Than Numbers: Why It Matters
- Resilience in Drought: Stored rainwater keeps gardens alive during restrictions.
- Lower Costs: Residents save on their water bills.
- Reduced Storm-water Pressure: Totes slow runoff, reducing flooding and erosion.
- Community Leadership: Showing that small towns can lead with big ideas inspires others far beyond our borders.
A Path Forward
Rain totes are just the start. As a community we can:
- Encourage every household to install at least one tote.
- Support businesses in capturing rainwater for landscaping.
- Tie rain harvesting into broader programs — like Xeriscaping and lawn buy-back — to multiply water savings.
Call to Action
Imagine what nearly 7.5 million litres saved each year means for our community. Less strain on our river, lower bills for residents, and a future where resilience is built into every yard.
🌱 Would you install a tote if it meant saving water for your community? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.
What’s Next?
In our next post, we’ll explore xeriscaping — how replacing turf-grass with native, drought-tolerant plants can save even more water while creating beautiful, wildlife-friendly yards.
And after that, we’ll dive into the upcoming Lawn Buy-Back Program brief, a practical way to make these ideas real at the municipal level.
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