Rain Barrel Workshop - Build Your Own!

Assemble your own rain barrel to take home!

During this workshop you'll be led by an educator from Greenville County Soil and Water Conservation District as you assemble your own rain barrel. We recommend watching our rain barrel installation video prior to the workshop. You'll also want to review the information below so that you're ready to choose a location for your rain barrel! Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrqW_HryiWM

TO REGISTER:

There are two, one-hour workshop times to choose from .Each ticket will provide you one rain barrel. You can bring yourself and one other person if you wish (no more than 2 people in a group).If you want to construct more than 1 rain barrel you are welcome to purchase multiple tickets.

WHAT

You will receive one 50 gallon barrel. These barrels are donated from the Coke bottling plant, and they are white plastic. You will also receive a kit to convert the barrel into a rain barrel. The kit requires hooking up to a down spout. We will walk you through all the instructions for installing the valves associated with the kit, but you will need to complete the installation at home, which requires a drill (bits are included in the kit we provide). We will provide some drills at the workshop, but if you have one to bring from home, that would be great to help speed things up. NO EXPERIENCE necessary. This is a very simple project that anyone can complete. 

WHO

All ages are welcome!

WHERE

We will meet at our Fork Shoals entrance, 601 Fork Shoals Rd. (D on our Map). Please watch your inbox for an email with further instructions that we will send to participants in the days leading up to the workshop.

WHEN

First group, please plan to arrive by 8:50 a.m. so that we can begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. Second group, please plan to arrive by 10:20 a.m.. If we are not there to greet you in the parking lot, please understand it is because we are concluding the first workshop and will come greet you as soon as possible.

WEATHER

If the weather is not cooperative, we will attempt to reschedule this program, before outright cancelling.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Cancellations must be made 3 days prior to the event for a full refund. See above for health and weather related circumstances.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PLEASE REVIEW THE INFORMATION BELOW BEFORE THE WORKSHOP

All pre-workshop information is provided by Greenville County Soil and Water Conservation District

SIZING AND DESIGN

STEP 1. Observe your roof runoff. Note where you have existing roof gutter downspouts, roof valleys or edges that drain large amounts of water.

STEP 2. Calculate the runoff volume. To determine how many rain barrels you need and whether you should designate an area to direct the rain barrel overflow, you need to know the volume of water the barrels will receive during a typical rain storm. Designing for a 1-inch storm will capture most of the runoff volume as long as the barrels are emptied between storms.

Complete steps A-D to calculate runoff volume:

• A) Calculate the square footage of the drainage area: DRAINAGE AREA LENGTH (ft) X DRAINAGE AREA WIDTH (ft) = DRAINAGE AREA (ft2)

• B) If multiple areas will be directed to the rain barrel, calculate the square footage of each and add them together.

• C) Find the volume of storm water from the total drainage area for a 1-inch storm by dividing the drainage area by 12 to convert the inch to feet:

• TOTAL DRAINAGE AREA (ft2) ÷ 12 INCHES = STORMWATER VOLUME (ft3)

• D) Most rain barrels give the holding capacity in Convert the cubic feet to gallons by multiplying by 7.48.

STORMWATER VOLUME (ft3) X 7.48 GALLONS = STORMWATER VOLUME (gallons)

STEP 3. Determine how many rain barrels are needed. Attempt to capture volume from a one-inch storm. STORMWATER VOLUME (gallons) ÷ RAIN BARREL CAPACITY (gallons) = # OF RAIN BARRELS NEEDED

STEP 4. Address the overflow. Be sure to note where the overflow will go during large storms. Avoid directing the overflow next to building foundations. Plan to use a splash guard, install a soaker hose, or build a slight swale to direct overflow away from your home and into an area where it can be absorbed, such as a naturally vegetated area or a rain garden.

INSTALLATION (You may want to complete the first 2 installation steps prior to the workshop as well.)

STEP 1. Level the area. Once you have determined where you want your rain barrels to go, level the ground surface. You can use crushed stone or mulch to stabilize the ground.

STEP 2. Install blocks or stand. Elevating the rain barrel is necessary to allow room for a watering can, bucket, or hose attachment under the spigot. Elevating the barrels will also create stronger water pressure. Place the blocks or other materials to create a stand on the leveled ground and recheck for level. Adjust as needed to achieve level. TIP: Your rain barrel should be secured on a firm, level surface. A full, 55-gallon rain barrel weighs over 400 pounds.

STEP 3. Connect the downspout to the rain barrel. Flow diverters allow you to easily direct flow from your gutter downspout into your rain barrel. To install the diverter, temporarily place the rain barrel on the blocks to mark where the diverter needs to be installed. Cut the gutter and install the diverter per the instructions, at a height that allows the water to flow from the diverter into the barrel. If not using a flow diverter, the gutter downspout can be directed or connected directly to the barrel.

STEP 4. Install the rain barrel.

• A) Place the rain barrel on the blocks or

• B) Direct flow from gutter downspout or diverter into the

• C) Direct the overflow hose from the rain barrel to a vegetated area or another storm water practice, where it can soak into the ground