Eric Lawson has accumulated approximately 13 years of data relating to the weather on Bowen Island. He recently enlisted Dominique Kluyskens' help to determine whether Bowen's weather patterns have undergone any changes over the last decade.
"I've taken the data for the last 13 years and have combined them on a season by season basis to see if there was an evolution of rainfall," Kluyskens said, adding that 13 years are not usually enough time to conclusively predict a trajectory.
But the graphs he created have shown a clear trend - one that he feels Bowen Islanders need to be aware of. "Over the summers, rainfall has decreased quite steadily. An average of 200 mm over the summer months has gone down to 75 mm. That is quite a hefty decrease. There is some evolution here to be noticed."
Lawson explained that as summer months he is counting July, August and September. For the winter, he looks at January, February and March. And he has seen a change there as well. "In the winter, there has been an increase in rainfall," Kluyskens said, adding that the change is less dramatic than the decrease in the summer, but it is noticeable as well.
"The other seasons are pretty stable," Kluyskens said. "But the changes we've seen could lead to serious water problems. They could have consequences that can be dangerous for the island."
Both Lawson and Kluyskens believe that a shift in policy and regulations could effectively address the issue. And they have seen examples in other places of the world that could serve as models. Lawson has lived in Bermuda and Kluyskens in the Caribbean. "In Bermuda, it is mandatory of have a 50,000 gallon capacity cistern," Lawson said, adding that he stayed in a house where showers and toilets for about 16 people where all fed by water from the roof.
"On islands where there are similar problems, municipalities have asked for water storage systems," Klyusken explains. "A lot of islands are independent from exterior water supplies and only rely on cisterns. A similar approach could be good for our municipal budget."
Lawson said that the requirement to install rainwater systems in new developments and buildings would alleviate demand on dams, pipes and water purification systems.
He also believes that rainwater catchment systems would provide sufficient water supplies in our climate and Kluyskens added that there are a number of examples on Bowen Island his is one of them. He explained that his family built the home in 2005 and used three of its foundation walls to enclose the cistern. The price for additional equipment that includes filters, a UV system and piping was comparable to a traditional purifying system.
The system is called "delicious rain" (see a video about it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzbUw_Ia258). Kluyskens' home is also hooked up to the Cove Bay Water System but he uses that only for his garden.
The only problem Kluyskens wasn't aware of at the time of construction was debris from the trees and he says he has to clean the gutters about once a month.
Lawson said he installed a rain guard about a year ago that comes with a lifetime guarantee.
The switch to rainwater harvesting has been a natural one for Kluyskens because his family has had 20 years of experiences with a house in St. Martin in the Caribbean. But he thinks that it will be a learning curve for Bowen Islanders to start thinking about taking charge of their water needs.
"There is a debate raging whether we have to invest in a new filtration system or increase the size of the dam," Kluyskens said. "Why don't we ask people to invest in systems for all new constructions?"
The Lawsons moved to Bowen Island 32 years ago and are on a 400-feet deep well but Lawson also believes that rainwater harvesting is the way to go for the future. He points to the charts and says, "It's amazing to talk about climate change and then see this."
"For the long term, we need to do something and be prepared," Kluyskens said, adding that he believes Lawson's data is a valuable tool that can help convince the people on Bowen Island and the municipality that a shift is required.
