Water becomes a limited resource seasonally on Galiano due to our unique Mediterranean climate. As the climate continues to warm, drought and water scarcity are likely to increase in duration and severity. Conserving water is a simple and highly effective means of increasing community and ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change.
The GCA is looking to support local water conservation efforts with two rebate programs:
The Galiano Conservancy Association set out between 2020 and 2022 to understand the island’s Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity through the One Island, One Earth project, and found that estimates of water usage on Galiano and other Gulf Islands are based on proxy models, and actual water use remains a major uncertainty in estimates of water availability. Sparked by this gap in our local knowledge, we approached the Vancouver Foundation, who generously agreed to support an initiative to collect anonymized water usage data to understand community water consumption throughout the year.
Installing a water meter is a simple way to monitor water usage. Households & businesses willing to provide water meter readings on an ongoing basis for a minimum of two years can receive a $250 rebate for purchasing and installing a water meter. All data collected will be confidential, and any results share will be averaged.
We are accepting applications from community members who have recently installed a water meter dating back to March 2023 — payment receipts must be dated after March 1st 2023 to qualify for the rebate.
You must have already purchased and installed a water meter to submit a full application and receive a rebate. If waiting to receive the rebate is a barrier for you, please email water@galianoconservancy.ca to discuss how we can make this program as accessible as possible for you.
The Galiano Conservancy Association has partnered with Transition Salt Spring to provide the Galiano community with rebates on rainwater cistern purchases and their installation. We are offering rebates of $250 for 520-1040-gallon cisterns and $500 for cisterns that are 1040-gallons and over.
Rainwater harvesting is a great way to extend the benefits of the rainy season by capturing and storing water for use in the home or landscape during the dry season. This rebate only supports non-potable water systems.
Program and rebate details can be found on Transition Salt Spring’s website.
***Please note the Galiano Conservancy Rebate has reached its maximum number of applications. However, Transition Salt Spring continues to offer rebate opportunities for Southern Gulf Island residents.***
If you have any questions about the rebate or water conservation, please get in touch with water@galianoconservancy.ca