Friends of Deckers Creek's rain barrel workshop takes Morgantown by storm

Twenty people strolled in as the garage doors of the Morgantown Utility Board’s warehouse opened and revealed rows of large, red barrels lined on the floor.  It was officially time for the fourth annual Friends of Deckers Creek and Morgantown Utility Board’s rain barrel workshop.

According to Sarah Cayton, executive director of Friends of Deckers Creek, the main focus of the workshop was to teach people the effects of storm water runoff on the environment, especially in bodies of water, and how to combat it through the use of a rain barrel.

“I know that before I started at Friends of Deckers Creek, I didn’t even know what storm water meant and why it was bad to have runoff,” said Cayton.  “So I think teaching people that it does have an environmental impact and that doing a little bit personally can make a difference in your neighborhood and local community.”

Rivers, streams and other bodies of water are incredibly dependent on their surrounding environment, or watershed, in order be clean and properly maintained.  However, when rainwater has nowhere to go, it picks up bacteria, chemicals and other harmful waste that goes directly into nearby streams.  This is not only detrimental for human health through disease, but it can also create toxic zones that are inhabitable for aquatic life.

“Part of the work with storm water in Morgantown is the combined sewer overflow, which means that some of the storm water that runs in the drains on the street can actually go into these CSO's,” said Cayton. “So if it rains enough and there’s enough water, the sewage overflow comes out with the storm water, and that water runs directly into the creek.”

Cayton said that rain barrels can help divert these combined sewer overflows, as well as keep other pollutants from reaching the streams.

“They serve a multitude of purposes,” said Cayton. “They will trap the water coming in from the gutters on your house, and when it collects there, you can recycle and reuse it to water your plants or wash your car.”

Cayton said that they use a diverter kit to assemble the barrels, which means one end screws onto the barrel and then another attaches to the gutters of a house.  The barrel also has a spout that can attach a garden hose, or be left open to fill larger jugs.

Two more workshops will be offered on April 11 and April 25 for those who are interested in learning about the process. Jonathan Schnell, a resident of Morgantown for the past 15 years, said he was excited to make a rain barrel for the first time.

“I’m really hoping to learn the benefits of collecting rain water, not only from an environmental standpoint, but also for uses around the house and garden,” said Schnell.

Schell said he has spent his whole life trying to learn how to become as environmentally friendly as possible, and encourages others to try new things like a rain barrel workshop in order to do so.

“We only have one shot at this life, and we’re not going to get another chance to make a difference, so the more we can do know to impact the world we live in now and for future generations, the better,” said Schell. “So if that means collecting rain water, then great.”