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Professional Rainwater Harvesting Systems for Vancouver Island

Rainwater harvesting is not only legal in Canada—it's a smart water strategy for Vancouver Island properties facing well limitations, shared septic constraints, or rising municipal costs. Based in Nanaimo, Canadaqua designs and installs complete rainwater harvesting systems that collect, store, filter, and UV-treat rainwater for both non-potable uses (irrigation, laundry) and potable drinking water when properly treated. With Vancouver Island's west coast receiving up to 6,650mm (260 inches) of annual rainfall—among North America's highest—your roof is an untapped water source. We engineer systems sized to your property's rainfall patterns, storage needs, and end-use requirements, with professional installation and guaranteed maintenance to ensure reliable performance year-round. Serving Nanaimo, Victoria, Campbell River, Tofino, and all Island communities with rainwater solutions built for our climate.

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Is Rainwater Harvesting Legal in Canada?

Yes—Rainwater Collection Is Fully Legal for Residential Use in BC
Despite persistent myths, collecting rainwater is not illegal in Canada or British Columbia. The BC Plumbing Code (Section 9.42) explicitly permits rainwater harvesting for non-potable uses (toilet flushing, irrigation) and—when treated to Health Canada standards—for potable drinking water. Vancouver Island municipalities including Nanaimo, Victoria, and Courtenay actively encourage rainwater systems to reduce strain on aging infrastructure and shared septic fields. Canadaqua designs all systems to meet CRD, RDN, and local authority requirements—ensuring compliance while maximizing your water independence. No permits are required for basic collection systems; potable systems require approval but we handle all documentation.

Why Vancouver Island Is Ideal for Rainwater Harvesting

Your Roof Captures 60,000+ Litres Annually—Why Let It Run Off?

Vancouver Island's rainfall isn't just abundant—it's predictable and harvestable:
  • West Coast Advantage: Henderson Lake region receives 6,650mm (260") annually—the highest in North America—making west Island properties ideal for large-scale collection
  • Seasonal Reliability: Autumn and winter deliver consistent rainfall to fill cisterns before summer dry periods
  • Practical Yield: A standard 200m² (2,150 sq ft) Nanaimo home roof captures ~120,000 litres annually—enough for all non-potable needs plus supplemental drinking water with proper treatment
  • Economic Drivers: Rising well drilling costs ($15,000–$30,000+), shared septic limitations, and municipal water restrictions make harvesting a cost-effective alternative

Unlike arid regions requiring massive storage, Vancouver Island's reliable rainfall allows modest cistern sizes (5,000–20,000L) to deliver year-round supply—making systems affordable for single-family homes and highly scalable for developments.

From Collection to Potable Water: Our Treatment Process

Three Stages to Safe, Great-Tasting Rainwater
Rainwater isn't "clean" when it hits your roof—it collects bird droppings, organic debris, and atmospheric contaminants. Our professionally engineered systems include:

Stage 1: Collection & Pre-Filtration

First-flush diverters discard the initial dirty runoff; leaf screens and vortex filters remove debris before water enters storage. Critical for Vancouver Island's forested properties where organic matter accumulates on roofs.

Stage 2: Storage

UV-stabilized polyethylene or concrete cisterns (5,000–50,000L) with sealed lids prevent mosquito breeding and light exposure. We size tanks based on your roof area, local rainfall data, and intended use—not guesswork.

Stage 3: Treatment for Potable Use

For drinking/cooking applications: multi-stage filtration (sediment → carbon) followed by UV disinfection eliminates bacteria and viruses. Every potable system includes Maxxam Lab certification to Health Canada standards. Non-potable systems skip Stage 3—reducing cost for irrigation/laundry applications.
All systems include overflow management compliant with Island bylaws to prevent property flooding during heavy rains.

Why Is Rainwater Harvesting Good for the Environment?

Over time, natural springs have reduced their water flow or have completely dried up. The environment, including Rivers and lakes, has become polluted due to population growth. More significant population and urban development also increases stormwater run-off and decreases water infiltration into the ground where it falls. All of these concerns have a direct impact on the water quantity and water quality we encounter today. Rainwater harvesting reduces flooding and erosion on your property environment that occurs around the downspouts and in gardens. It can also control stormwater run-off. Rainwater doesn’t produce scale and corrosion, as hard water does. The collection of rainwater may reduce flooding in certain environments, such as around the exterior perimeter of the premises or at the lower grades of the property where the water gravitates to that has no proper drainage. Rainwater harvesting helps individuals save on their water bills and can reduce costs to the overall community. The expense to supply municipal water to the community can be substantially reduced if numerous residents use rainwater. Providing an alternative source of water also minimizes the concern of municipal water contamination or any other emergency. Rainwater in many countries is used as a primary source of water or an alternative source when needed. It makes sense to use rainwater whenever possible. Harvested rainwater can be stored and then used during drought and when the groundwater supplies have been depleted.

CANADAQUA

CANADAQUA

Rainwater Irrigation Systems

Rainwater collection systems range from 10,000-gallon cisterns to 40-gallon rain barrels. Even though maintenance is required on rainwater collection systems, these can be constructed to maintain efficiency. Digging deeper wells is expensive and can cause environmental damage in soil collapse when the water disappears. Also, if your well water is substandard for drinking or may be drying up, Please Contact Coastal Water Store to discuss the option of using a rainwater collection system that is designed for your needs and installed by us, which is often more cost-effective than drilling a well.

Under Services (Rainwater Tank Installations)

Rain Cistern installation: Each application is unique to the needs of the customer. Please contact us directly to receive an installation quote. Canadian Association for Rainwater Management Canadian Association for Rainwater Management. CANARM stands for the promotion and education of rainwater and stormwater management best practices. With increasing environmental awareness and concerns, addressing rainwater management issues has become paramount to the success and longevity of many residences and business operations. CANARM has been established to deal with the vast array of very positive actions undertaken by entrepreneurs, homeowners, designers, and help consolidate and focus jurisdictional governance across Canada.


CANADAQUA