Rain barrel workshop coming to Lexington County

Published: October 14, 2010

Carolina Clear image by: Carolina Clear

LEXINGTON — Learn how to build a rain barrel, save water, money and reduce stormwater pollution at a hands-on workshop Oct. 28 at the EMS Training Facility.

The class will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 407 Ball Park Road in Lexington.

The class costs $20 per person, and includes lunch and all rain barrel materials. The class is limited to 30 participants.

To register, send a check payable to Clemson University or pay in person at the Lexington County Extension office, 605 W. Main St., Suite 109, Lexington, S.C. 29072. Call 803-359-8515 for more information.

Visit www.clemson.edu/carolinaclear/lcsc to download a registration form.

The workshop includes presentations on water pollution; rain harvesting; and rain barrel function, design and construction. Participants will build their own rain barrels to take home and use.

The workshop is sponsored by W.P. Law Inc. and PepsiCo and hosted by the Lexington Countywide Stormwater Consortium, a regional partner of Clemson University's Carolina Clear stormwater awareness and education program.

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 also 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.

Lexington Countywide Stormwater Consortium
The consortium strives to enhance water quality throughout the area through education, involvement and outreach, and by fostering partnerships with local governments, citizens, businesses and organizations to support healthy, fishable and swimmable waterways. Communities involved in the Consortium are Lexington County, Cayce, Irmo, Pine Ridge, South Congaree, Springdale, Lexington and West Columbia.