Rain barrel workshop coming to Columbia

Published: April 29, 2010

image by: Carolina Clear

COLUMBIA — Learn how to build a rain barrel, save water and money and reduce stormwater pollution at a hands-on workshop May 15 at Richland County Public Works. 

The class will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Public Works building, 400 Powell Road in Columbia.

The class costs $45 per person and includes lunch and all rain barrel materials. A spouse or other guest can attend with the workshop participant for $10.

The class is limited to 30 participants. To register, contact Mary Nevins at 803-865-1216 or mnevins@clemson.edu. Payment is required by May 7 and should be sent to the Richland County Extension Office, P.O. Box 102406, Columbia, SC 29224. Call 803-865-1216 for more information. Checks should be made payable to Clemson University.

The workshop includes presentations on water pollution; water harvesting; and rain barrel function, design and construction.

The workshop is sponsored by W.P. Law Inc. and hosted by Carolina Clear, Clemson University’s stormwater education program; Clemson extension; the Richland Countywide Stormwater Consortium; and Richland County Public Works.

Rain barrels utilize an age-old concept of reusing rainwater to irrigate gardens and lawns, water plants and wash cars, among other uses.

A 1,000-square-foot roof catches more than 600 gallons of water from just an inch of rainfall. Rain barrels are good for the environment because they reduce stormwater flow, which causes erosion and can carry pollutants from yards and streets into streams.

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Carolina Clear
Carolina Clear is a stormwater education and awareness program of the Clemson University Restoration Institute and the Center for Watershed Excellence. The program’s goal is to minimize polluted stormwater runoff by educating the general public, youth, builders, developers, homeowners and government officials about how they can keep water in the state’s streams, rivers and basins as clean as possible.