Rain barrel workshop coming to Sumter County

Published: May 3, 2011

Carolina Clear image by: Carolina Clear

SUMTER — Build a rain barrel to take home and learn about “rain harvesting” at a workshop hosted by Sumter Stormwater Solutions and Carolina Clear, Clemson University’s stormwater pollution education program.

The workshop will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 14 at Sumter County Public Works, 1289 N. Main St. in Sumter.

The workshop is hosted jointly with Sumter County, L.P. Law Inc. and PepsiCo.

The class costs $45 per person and includes lunch and all rain barrel materials. The class is limited to 20 participants. Guests can attend for $10, which includes lunch only. Rain barrels typically cost about $100. 

Registration is first-come, first-served. Make checks payable to Clemson University and mail or deliver to Sumter County Extension, 115 N. Harvin St., Sumter, SC 29150.

Rain barrels utilize 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 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.

Sumter Stormwater Solutions is a regional collaboration involving the Carolina Clear program in partnership with communities and educators from universities, state agencies and nonprofits.

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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.