photo by Hannah Reel

Adams County Extension Service Director David Carter holds a rain barrel for Natchez resident Beth Dudley as she assembles it during the workshop at Stine Lumber Garden Center Saturday morning.

Residents learn about water conservation

By Adam Koob (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Sunday, July 19, 2009

NATCHEZ — Without much more than a bunch of 50-gallon drums and brass spigots, Adams County residents were learning the art of water conservation Saturday morning.

Approximately 40 city and county residents gathered at Stine Lumber for a demonstration on how to turn the simple white drums into rain-collectors.

Once filled, the rainwater captured in the barrels can be used to water gardens and cut back on water bills, event organizer, Stine Lumber employee and Adams County Green Alliance member, Steve McNerney said.

“People can feel good about recycling rainwater and save money on watering,” McNerney said.

Aside from the recycling and money saving aspects the rain barrels generate, there’s also an environmental benefit.

“This keeps at least some of the water from washing through the street collecting pollutants and then heading into our water system,” he said. “It’s not a lot, but it helps.”

And the actual construction of the barrels is something virtually anyone can do, said Adams County Extension Service Director David who was at Saturday’s event.

Not including the time it took to drill the necessary holes for rainwater collection, the spigot and a runoff valve, it took Carter moments to assemble the barrel.

Once assembled the barrel, with a three-inch screened hole in the top, is placed under a gutter or corner of a house where rain falls uncollected.

Once filled the water is utilized with a spigot that can be connected to a hose.

“It’s not rocket science,” Carter said to the audience as he fixed the spigot to the bottom of the barrel.

Carter said while rain barrels can be purchased for around $150, one can be made at home for approximately $30.

“And if you rummage around the house for the stuff you need, it could probably be done for $15,” Carter said.

And it doesn’t take a deluge to fill the barrel either.

Carter said one tenth of an inch of rain will fill the barrel if it’s properly placed.

“In a year’s time you could fill 100 of these barrels. And that’s money you’re not spending on water,” he said.

And for serious gardeners like Kelly Parks, a master gardener, the investment in time to make the barrel is time well spent.

Parks estimated that the two barrels she picked-up Saturday, and a few more at her house, would cut back on the water she buys in the coming year by 1,200 gallons.

“I do a lot of watering,” Parks said. “For me, this makes a lot of sense.”

Saturday’s event was sponsored by Stine Lumber Company and Brown Bottling Company, which provided the barrels.

For a $20 donation to the Keep Natchez-Adams Beautiful Association, participants in the demonstration were able to take their newly assembled barrels home.