About fifty Gabriola islanders came out Sept. 12 to celebrate a new rainwater harvesting-and-filtration system that doubles the supply of potable water for use by the Gabriola Community Health Centre.

This new source of clean drinking water augments the health centre’s existing well water, increasing the storage capacity from 7,500 gallons to 15,000 gallons.

The project was initiated by the Gabriola Health Care Foundation, the non-profit organization that owns, operates and manages the Gabriola Community Health Centre.

The new rainwater harvesting-and-filtration system is one of the first for a rural or remote health-care facility in B.C.

“This is pretty new ground,” foundation president Jeff Malmgren told the crowd. “We didn’t have a lot of experience to draw on… we were testing the waters, so to speak.”

Declining levels of well water prompted the foundation to look for ways to augment the supply of potable water for the health centre.

“We could have drilled a new well or trucked water in,” said Malmgren. “But in terms of the decision we made, it really came down to: What’s the best for our community and our environment?”

Malmgren thanked the Gabriola Lions Club, which provided $20,000 to the rainwater harvesting project, as well as longtime health-centre supporters Don and Mary Butt, who also donated to the project.

“We’re so lucky to have the Lions Club that we have here. They’re active and they’re thoughtful and they look for opportunities to support innovation and ideas that will support our community.”

Foundation board member Marc Herrmann, who managed all aspects of the harvesting-and-filtering project on behalf of the GHCF, thanked local contractors and tradespeople for their work and expertise in creating the new system and constructing the building that houses it.

He also thanked long-time foundation board member and former treasurer Harvey Graham for his assistance with the financial aspects of funding the new system.

Lead contractors included Rainwater Designers, Aquality Service, Oceanside Electric, Gulf Mechanical, and Velsen Homes, which managed the project site. Others involved include Arbutus Home Hardware and Bryans Mechanical.

Herrmann also presented a special plaque acknowledging the donors and contractors, which will be displayed in the Health Centre alongside existing plaques of recognition.

“In closing, I would like to thank everyone once again for joining us here today to celebrate this achievement,” said Herrmann. “It’s individuals and organizations such as this that makes Gabriola what it is today, and by working together, bringing us into the future.”