Stratford gets 2nd chance at free rain barrels

Residents of Stratford, P.E.I. have another chance to get a free rain barrel.

Last fall, the town — in partnership with the Insurance Bureau of Canada — gave away close to 1,000 barrels.

Mayor David Dunphy said the town is now giving away another 1,000.

He said the idea is to help the environment, by diverting water from storm sewers and making it available for people use on lawns and gardens.

"If we can get that water to go back into the ground, water plants, water your grass, whatever — it takes less water from our watershed — if we can do that and take some pressure off of the stormwater management system then that’s a more sustainable community and that’s really our goal," he said.

Dunphy said the insurance bureau plans to study the impact that 2,000 rain barrels in a community will have on flooding events.

He said people can pick up a rain barrel at town hall on any weekday during business hours.