Orangeville homeowners on town water can now get a $50 break on a rain barrel through a new partnership with RainBarrel.ca, a move town officials hope will stretch a drinking water supply that relies entirely on aging wells. The subsidy program runs until August 31, 2026, with one discounted barrel per household, while supplies last.
Residents with an active water meter account can order directly through the RainBarrel.ca website. The Hamilton-based company reclaims food-grade barrels once used to haul fruits and vegetables, repurposing them for backyard water collection. A similar offer in 2024 sold out in under a day, signaling strong demand among gardeners and homeowners looking to keep lawns and gardens alive without turning on the tap.
The push comes as Orangeville faces a multi-year squeeze on water capacity. Several of the town’s 12 wells are past the 45-year mark, and three wells alone supply roughly 55 per cent of the community’s drinking water. Infrastructure Services General Manager Tim Kocialek told council in June 2024 that repairs to wells and a west-side water tower would likely mean limited supply and storage for two to three years. The province has since pledged $8.1 million for well rehabilitation and a new storage facility, but the town is moving now to curb peak demand.
The rain barrel subsidy sits alongside other conservation measures, including a lawn-watering bylaw that restricts watering of lawns and gardens to one day a week. Residents can only water between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. or 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on their assigned day, which is based on their address number. The bylaw includes exemptions for vegetable gardens and new trees. The town’s broader water plan also includes leak detection, universal metering, and toilet replacement rebates. Across the county line, Dufferin County is exploring its own rain barrel program as part of a climate action plan, pointing to heavier rainfall events that increase flood risk.
Funding for the $50 discount comes from the municipality, and town staff emphasize the offer is first-come, first-served. With the 2024 round emptying in a single day, this year’s window through the end of August gives residents more time to claim a barrel and help ease the strain on wells that have served the community for decades.
