NEWBERRY — Across the country states have either made it illegal, or have created regulations for residents who would like to collect rain water.
For example in California, rainwater harvesting systems are legal, as long as they comply with the California State Water Resources Board requirements, according to acerwatertanks.com.
In South Carolina it is legal to collect rainwater, and there are no regulations. This means South Carolina residents can collect rainwater to use for their crops, backyard gardens or whatever other uses they may have.
District Coordinator Danielle Himsey of the Newberry Soil and Water Conservation District will host a Rain Barrel Workshop to teach Newberry County residents how to collect rainwater.
“This is a workshop where you learn about the benefits of a rain barrel, and then you build your own barrel, what I like to call BYOB, build your own barrel,” Himsey said. “These help you catch natural rain water, to save it for later. Some of the benefits of it are that it is free, it is convenient, it is all in the same place, the rain barrel just catches it and saves it.”
Other benefits to collecting rainwater includes the fact that it cuts down the water consumption in your house, and the rainwater is better for plants because it contains trace amounts of Nitrogen, according to Himsey.
“Tap water contains chemicals, like softeners and stuff like that, rain water does not. Water straight out of the tap may be hot in the summer and cold in the winter, either extreme can shock the plant root, in the barrel it is a little bit more tempered,” she said. “Collecting rainwater is also good if we go through a drought.”
Ben Setzler, commissioner at the NSWCD, said this is a great way to conserve water in times of drought and helps prevent erosion from building roof runoff. Himsey added that she would not recommend drinking the rainwater.
During the workshop Himsey will provide sandwiches while she goes through a presentation that will show the benefits, and then everyone will make a rain barrel. Himsey will provide all the materials to make the rain barrel, and then they get to keep them.
“So when you build it, you will have a screen (like a window screen) on the top of the barrel, that is cut out, and that is where the water goes in. Then there is going to be an overflow hose on the side that helps if there is too much water in it, that prevents erosion, because the barrel gets too full and starts spilling out the top, then you have your erosion problem, but with the overflow hose you do not have that issue,” Himsey said. “On the front, at the bottom, you install an outside faucet, which is how you get the water out, you will hook a hose up to the faucet.”
From start to finish, it should take 30 to 40 minutes to make a rain barrel. The barrels will be 55 gallons, so Himsey suggests if you attend the workshop to bring a vehicle that can transport it, like a truck or an SUV.
The workshop will be held on March 23 at the USDA building, 719 Kendall Road, at 6:30 p.m. There is a cap of 15 people, so Himsey recommends that those interested RSVP as soon as possible. The last day to RSVP is March 21 at 5 p.m. If you are a NSWCD member, this workshop is free, but if you are not it is $30, or become a member for $50. Becoming a member also means attending all NSWCD events free. Contact Himsey at 803-597-3160 for more information.