NEWBERRY — The Newberry Soil and Water Conservation District will host a Rain Barrel Workshop on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m.

Joseph Berry, district coordinator for NSWCD, said they will be teaching the benefits of rain collection during the workshop.

“Rain barrels allow people to use a natural resource in a constructive way that otherwise would have been bypassed by not collecting them. Either way the water will return to the ground and the water cycle; however, with collection through a rain barrel, it can be put to another use before returning,” Berry said. “Collection can also be used to minimize the runoff and erosion that can pick up things like pollutants, excess fertilizers and soil — and deposit them where they don’t belong.”

During the workshop, those in attendance will build their own rain barrel — which can be beneficial to a backyard gardener.

“Rainwater is free of salts, inorganic ions, and fluorides found in tap water. All of which can accumulate over time and impact the soil in a garden or yard, if you use your hose from the house — also you have to pay for that water. With a rain barrel you minimize all this impact for just a $30 charge to build the barrel.”

This workshop will be on a first come, first served basis. The class will be held at the USDA Building (719 Kendall Road, Newberry). To reserve your spot you can call Berry at 803-597-3160.

“This event is sure to be a lot of fun, and is one the Conservation District loves to put on and have people come out to. It’s a practical conservation practice that anyone can do and it can create a huge impact. I hope that anyone that is interested in conserving this resource will sign up to build their barrel. The drop in your water bill will be nice too,” Berry said.

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By Andrew Wigger

awigger@championcarolinas.com

Reach Andrew Wigger @ 803-276-0625 ext. 1867 or on Twitter @TheNBOnews.