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[[File:STEP Minto Cistern P1 - Copy.jpg|thumb|Rainwater harvesting is commonly employed on zero-lot-line projects like downtown condos. This cast in place concrete vault in one corner of the parking level is a typical design.]]
[[File:STEP Minto Cistern P1 - Copy.jpg|thumb|Rainwater harvesting is commonly employed on zero-lot-line projects like downtown condos. This cast in place concrete vault in one corner of the parking level is a typical design.]]
Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is the ancient practice of collecting and storing precipitation for later use. Although Ontario is a region with relatively abundant fresh water, RWH is increasing in popularity for a number of reasons:
Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is the ancient practice of collecting and storing precipitation for later use. Although Ontario is a region with relatively abundant fresh water, RWH is increasing in popularity for a number of reasons:
*The simplicity of selecting and installing a system, owing to improvements in the technology and the development of a local industry,
#The simplicity of selecting and installing a system, owing to improvements in the technology and the development of a local industry,
*The ease of modelling RWH in a stormwater management (SWM) plan, owing to the fixed size of the catchment and the cistern,
#The ease of modelling RWH in a stormwater management (SWM) plan, owing to the fixed size of the catchment and the cistern,
*Increasing transparency of storm sewer costs in some municipalities, and
#Increasing transparency of storm sewer costs in some municipalities, and
*Increasing utility rates for potable water supply.
#Increasing utility rates for potable water supply.
<blockquote>Rainwater harvesting is an ideal technology for:
<blockquote>Rainwater harvesting is an ideal technology for:
*Sites which cannot infiltrate water owing to contaminated soils or shallow bedrock,
*Sites which cannot infiltrate water owing to contaminated soils or shallow bedrock,