Thousands more are eligible for Rain Ready rebates for rain garden, permeable pavement, downspouts and more

Published on
July 2, 2024
Home and community
Planning, development and construction
Water and environment

Feature story

Rain Ready Ottawa has expanded its priority areas. This means you may be eligible for a rebate of up to $5,000 to help you install a rain diversion project on your property. Are you thinking of installing one or more of the following?

  • Downspouts
  • Rain barrels
  • A rain garden
  • A soakaway pit
  • Permeable payment driveway

To learn more about what these projects are, visit Rain Ready Ottawa or take one of our e-learning courses.

A colourful residential flower garden

To be eligible for a rebate you must live in one of the priority areas identified as significant to the health of local waterways that drain into the  Ottawa River. You can use the eligibility tool on the program webpage to check your address.

When rain falls on buildings, streets and parking lots, it moves quickly into storm sewers that drain straight into our streams and rivers, picking up pollutants along the way. This can cause problems like:

  • Poor water quality in creeks and rivers
  • Increased risks of flooding and erosion
  • Habitat degradation
  • Beach closures

The City is working to reduce the impact of both combined sewage overflows and storm water on the Ottawa River. Rain Ready Ottawa encourages and supports residents like you to take action on your property to reduce the harmful impacts of rainwater runoff, helping us build a green and sustainable Ottawa.

For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through FacebookTwitter and Instagram.