The Hawthorne Green Team hosted a Rain Barrel Making Workshop at the Louis Bay II Library on Saturday, May 5, 2012.

Amy Rose, a Rutgers University representative, taught the 12 participants the significance of a rain barrel, also known as a rain bank, and exactly how to build it. She explained that a rain barrel is a system that collects and stores rainwater from the roof that would otherwise be lost to runoff and diverted to storm drains and streams.

At 11 a.m., when the workshop started, a PowerPoint presentation was presented on the benefits of having a rain barrel. Viewers learned that lawn and garden watering makes up nearly 40 percent of total household water use during the summer. A rain barrel collects water and stores it for when you needed most — during periods of drought — to water plants, wash the car, or to top a swimming pool. Rose also demonstrated how to build a rain barrel and gave step-by-step instructions. A rain barrel will save most homeowners about 1,300 gallons of water during the peak summer months.

After the presentation was finished, participants started to build their rain barrels. The barrels were lined up in the library, and all of the tools needed to construct them were provided.

These rain barrels are recycled cranberry barrels from the Ocean Spray juice corporation. Participants attached a spout at the bottom of the barrel for water access and another piece at the top so that a hose can be connected to control excess water if the barrel begins to overflow.

When, finished the barrel owners took their new rain barrels back to their homes. The rain barrels are supposed to be placed underneath a gutter or downspout system so when it rains the barrel collects rooftop runoff.