Rainwater Harvesting Webinar Q&A

Extracted text (beginning)

Rainwater Harvesting Webinar 
Sept. 29, 2020, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. 
Speakers: William Shulba, Islands Trust, and  
Shannon Cowan, Salt Spring Island Watershed Protection Alliance  
Questions and Answers
1
 
Shannon Cowan William Shulba Rhonan Heitzmann  
1. What is being done to encourage the inclusion of cisterns or outdoor water tanks intended to 
collect and store non-potable water from roofs on all new domestic building projects?  
 
Shannon: To my knowledge, Saturna Island might require potable rainwater storage, treatment and 
delivery systems. I am not aware of any policy work in the Islands Trust Area to encourage nonpotable 
rainwater use. The Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw Section 3.15.9 states that the following new 
buildings require “rainwater storage, treatment and delivery for potable water”: full time rental cottages 
exceeding 56 square metres floor area, and cottages with additions that exceed 11.6 square metres. 
Gillian, I cannot speak for the entire Islands Trust Area. I am familiar with the Salt Spring Island Land Use 
Bylaw water sections only. In the Regional District of Nanaimo there has been a successful rainwater 
harvesting rebate program for more than 7 years that repeats annually and is allocated on a first-come, 
first served basis for a minimum of 1,000 gallons of storage and up to $750 of qualifying expenses 
towards the collection or storage of rainwater. Salt Spring Island Watershed Protection Alliance is 
working on coordinating a similar incentive program with the Capital Regional District. Sunshine Coast 
Regional District has a rainwater rebate program that is tied into a rate pay structure for Keats Island.  
2. Is the increasing death of cedar trees as opposed to other trees caused by a shallower root 
system than say a Douglas-fir?  
 
Shannon: Drought increases the susceptibility to wildfire, pests and disease. I can substantiate that 
Western Red Cedar does typically have a more shallow root system than a Douglas Fir, however the type 
of soil and substrate as well as the slope and aspect (direction of incident sunlight during growing 
season) have a large impact on how resilient trees can be during times of low or no precipitation. Much 
of the Salish Sea islands are characterized by rocky slopes with little topsoil. As such, seasonal drought is 
affecting Douglas-fir, Grand Fir as well as Cedar. Even species that are very resilient to drought (Arbutus 
and Garry Oak) are demonstrating signs of drought stress.  
                                                           
1
 Due to time limitations not all questions could be answered during the webinar. 

3. Should we be planting different trees in our reforestation areas given that the months and 
amounts of max rain are going to change over time?  
Shannon: Yes, climate action is affecting intensity and timing of rainfall. That said, wetlands are 
likely to get wetter in the winter and drier in the summer, and the way water is managed on the 
landscape

First 3,000 characters. Open the original for the whole document.