May 26, 2016 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – Capturing and storing rain water from a roof downspout cannot only help reduce the harmful effects of stormwater runoff on nearby streams but also save a homeowner money.

To push that initiative, workshops focusing on using rain barrels to collect and store rainwater will be held next month by the Greene County Conservation District in cooperation with Waynesburg Borough.

The workshops are free and open to all Greene County residents.

They will be held at the Waynesburg street department compound on First Street. One will be at 6:30 p.m. June 9, and another at 9:30 a.m. June 11.

Collecting rainwater from a roof drain has several benefits, said Jared Zinn, conservation district watershed specialist.

“It’s a good way to reduce stormwater and it can help the property owner reduce his water bill,” he said.

Rainwater from downspouts, parking lots and other paved areas normally flows into nearby storm drain systems, transporting high volumes of water to local streams in a short period of time, Zinn said.

The increased flow can result in stream flooding and erosion, Zinn said.

In addition, debris, oil and other materials washed into the stream from these same sources can impact the stream’s water quality.

Collecting and storing some of the runoff in barrels can help reduce the flow, Zinn said. The stored water can then be used in place of treated tap water for a number of activities around the house.

“You can use it to water the garden, wash the cars, pretty much anything, other than drinking or cooking,” Zinn said.

People who participate in the workshop will construct their own rain barrel from materials provided by the conservation district.

The materials include a 55- to 60-gallon plastic barrel and fittings for a spigot and overflow. The barrels are recycled “food-safe” barrels that have never been used to store any harmful or hazardous materials, Zinn said. The barrels are red or blue, but they can be painted.

Manufactured rain barrels are available at stores, but Zinn said he recently saw one that cost $70.

Zinn also will discuss other practices property owners can implement to reduce runoff, erosion and water pollution.

One of these practices is the preparation of a rain garden, a special garden constructed to handle excess water flow.

While both the workshops and rain barrels are free, the number of participants is limited and registration is requested.

For more information or to register, call the conservation district at 724-852-5278, or e-mail gccd@co.greene.pa.us.

Representatives of the conservation district also will attend the Waynesburg Farmers’ Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 15, to address questions about the construction of rain barrels.

Support for the rain barrel project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under the Clean Water Act, which is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.