By Linda Seida, Special Writer
LAMBERTVILLE — Ecology-minded citizens can learn how to make their own rain barrels in a workshop hosted by the city’s Environmental Commission.
The workshop on June 21 will be presented by the Rutgers Water Resources Team as part of a research project conducted by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Rutgers wants to determine whether using the rain barrels will encourage residents to adopt other environmental best practices.
The workshop will show participants how to construct rain barrels and also recommend ways to install it on their properties to best capture water that can be used for future tasks, such as garden watering.
Consumption of collected rainwater is not recommended.
Fun and informative for residents, the workshop also will help Rutgers with its research later on.
Michele Bakacs, the lead on the research project, said, “Essentially, we follow up with all participants of our workshops within three to six months via an e-mailed survey and ask them a number of questions including:
— Have they installed the rain barrel they purchased?
— Have they adopted other best management practices at home to conserve water and reduce stormwater runoff (i.e. installed low flow toilet, created a rain garden, disconnected or redirected downspouts to a pervious area)?
— Has installing the rain barrel made you more interested in other environmental actions (i.e. using native plants, recycling, reducing energy use, etc.)?”
The cost of the workshop is $45 and includes all materials necessary to build a rain barrel. The rain barrels will be constructed out of recycled food-grade 55-gallon barrels.
The workshop will be held 6-8 p.m. at the Lambertville Public School gymnasium, 200 N. Main St.
Space is limited, and registration is necessary. To register, or for more information, visit: www.water.rutgers.edu/Stormwater_Management/rainbarrels.html.

