Donna Riley-Lein

Features Editor

Taker the words, “rain barrel.” The first thing that you think of might be a shack in the mountains with a wooden rain barrel nestled next too it. Or you think of some place too poor and backward to have clean running water.

But, Extension Special Agent Christian Miller wants you to think of  non-potable (not for human or animal use) water for your garden, to wash your car and to do all sorts of outside tasks that you might want.

Best of all, it's free. No meters.

“One inch of rain on 1,000 square feet of impervious surface (a roof, for example) can generate more than 600 gallons of water,” said Miller in a telephone interview.

That's a lot of water. According to a 2000 report by the Baldwin County Flood Hazard Management Plan Planning committee, 64.9 inches of rain a year falls in Bay Minette. That's tens of thousands of gallons of  water for the average homeowner.

There will be two workshops on the use of rain barrels Saturday, December 4 at 10 a.m., at City Hall in Daphne. The workshops will last approximately two hours. Cost is $40 and includes one rain barrel which will be made taken home by participants at the end of the program. The fee for individuals who wish to attend without making a rain barrel is $10.

Miller cautions people coming to the workshop who intend to make a barrel that they should bring a vehicle roomy enough to accommodate the bulky vessel.

Miller says “one advantage” of coming to the workshop is the tools to construct the barrels, donated by Coca-Cola company, will be on site. The barrels are “food grade,” meaning there are no poisons in the vessel that will leach into the water. The barrels are white, but Miller says there are a number of non-toxic paints that will stick to the plastic that will allow a homeowner to customize the barrel to its location.

While there is a benefit to the pocketbook, there is a benefit to the environment. Miller says that there has been a “big push” to reduce storm water runoff in the area, and rain barrels are a simple thing homeowners can do to reduce runoff from their property.

“Some people make 'compost tea' by putting compost into their barrels and letting the nutrients go into the water they use for watering,” said Miller.

The water does not go “bad or anything like that,” Miller said.

However, rainbarrelguide.com, a website devoted to the use of rain barrels says, “Children can drown in as little just a few inches water. Additionally, animals both wild and domestic may become trapped and drown in your barrels if uncovered. Therefore, you should never use an open container for rainwater collection.”

Miller says that the barrels made at the workshop come with a screen to keep animals and children out. In addition, the screen will help keep out mosquitoes.

Quick Bits

Rain Barrel Workshop

Dec. 4 at 10 a.m., City Hall in Daphne. Presentation appx. 2 hours.

Cost: $10 to attend workshop, $40 to make and take home a barrel. Tools and advice provided.

Pre-registration required. Call 251-438-5690 or e-mail christian@auburn.edu. Payment may be made by cash or check, made out to Auburn University.