Rain barrel workshop coming to Columbia

Published: November 29, 2010

image by:

COLUMBIA — Build a rain barrel and learn about “rain harvesting” at a workshop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Clemson University Sandhill Research and Education Center, 900 Clemson Rd.

The class, limited to 30 participants, costs $45 per person and includes lunch and all rain barrel materials. Each participant leaves with a completed rain barrel. Rain barrels typically cost about $100. The program also includes a classroom session on stormwater runoff and water pollution and rainwater harvesting with barrels and cisterns. Guests can attend for $10 per person, which includes lunch only.

Deadline for registration is Dec. 3. Make checks payable to Clemson University and mail to Richland County Extension, PO Box 102406, Columbia, SC 29224 or deliver to 900 Clemson Rd.

For more information, contact Mary Nevins at 803-865-1216 ext. 122 or mnevins@clemson.edu.

Rain barrels use an age-old concept of reusing rainwater to irrigate gardens and lawns, water plants and wash cars, among many other uses. A 1,000-square-foot roof catches more than 600 gallons of water from just 1 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.  

The workshop is hosted jointly with Richland County, the Richland Countywide Stormwater Consortium and Carolina Clear, Clemson’s stormwater education and awareness program. The Richland Countrywide consortium is a regional partner of Carolina Clear. The workshop is sponsored by W.P. Law and PepsiCo.

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.

END