Rain barrels and cisterns · British Columbia

RDN Rainwater Harvesting (Cistern) Rebate

Run by Regional District of Nanaimo

OpenPlan requiredLast checked October 22, 2026
What you get
Up to $700 for the cistern plus up to $300 for collection system costs (piping, debris traps, filters, installation); up to $1,000 per household
Maximum
$1,000 per household
Who qualifies
Residential landowners anywhere in the Regional District of Nanaimo; only property owners can receive the rebate.
Where
Residential property owners anywhere in the Regional District of Nanaimo.
Status
Open. Open for 2026, first-come first-served until funds run out.
Type of payment
Rebate
Official program page

What you do

Install a potable-rated rainwater cistern system holding at least 4,546 litres (1,000 imperial gallons), fed from your roof, for garden watering or household use.

Requirements

  • One rebate per private property over the life of the program
  • Cistern must be rated for potable use (e.g. CSA approved) with at least 4,546 L total storage
  • Minimum roof collection area of 18.58 square metres (200 sq ft)
  • Install to the Cistern Installation and Safety Checklist on the claim form; a building permit is needed if indoor or potable plumbing is altered
  • Distribution components beyond the tank are not covered
  • Purchases and work in the same calendar year

The plan or design it asks for

The pre-approval application needs a description of the system you plan to install plus before photos showing the roof catchment area and cistern location, with something for scale.

Make the plan in Sow

Draw the layout and build the plant list

Sow places plants on a photo of your yard and keeps a list of everything you add. Check Regional District of Nanaimo's rules for exactly what to submit.

Start a plan in Sow

How to apply

  1. 1Submit the pre-approval application with a system description and before photos to [email protected] or 6300 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo
  2. 2On written approval, $1,000 is set aside and you have 90 days to install
  3. 3Submit the claim form (including the installation and safety checklists), paid itemized receipts and photos of the installed system
  4. 4Allow 6 to 8 weeks for payment

Timing and deadlines

Pre-approval lasts 90 days; extensions on request.

Sources

Last checked October 22, 2026. See something out of date? Tell us.

Sow is not affiliated with any of these agencies or utilities. Amounts and rules change, often at the start of a fiscal year, so confirm the details on the official page before you start a project. How we research these programs

Free to cite

Quote it with credit and a link to this page. The amounts and rules come from Regional District of Nanaimo's official page, linked above, so check it before you publish.

Source: Sow, “RDN Rainwater Harvesting (Cistern) Rebate,” Yard rebates directory, checked October 22, 2026, https://www.usesow.com/rebates/british-columbia/rdn-rainwater-harvesting-rebate

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