Skip to content

Sparwood to purchase new self-watering baskets

$30,000 will be put forward by the district to purchase self-watering baskets and planters.

The District of Sparwood has plans to alter the beautification program budget in order to purchase self-watering baskets and planters valued at $30,000 for use in the spring and summer of 2015.

Over the summer, the district conducted a trial with the self-watering baskets in order to compare the costs and maintenance of these baskets, which feature built-in reservoirs allowing plants to use as little water as needed, to traditional baskets.

From June 5 to August 27, staff refilled the reservoirs of these baskets only 11 times. These baskets are also reusable and have an estimated life expectancy of 20 years.

The annual savings of switching to these baskets is $19,000, a total that will yield to $266,000 in 15 years.

Former Mayor Lois Halko said, “That is a substantial amount of money saved and can be allocated to other jobs in the district.”