Since 2009, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (CRK) has been working with the Coca-Cola Company to replenish drops in the metro Atlanta area through the use of rain barrels.

Coke provides CRK with used 60-gallon syrup containers for use by homeowners to harvest rain water. The program workshop is devised to teach homeowners about water conservation, water wise gardening and rain barrel installation and harvesting.

CRK is offering several opportunities to purchase and learn how to install a rain barrel. CRK’s Bonny Putney leads the workshops, which include a screening of the organization's “Tapped Out” presentation that underscores the need to conserve water.

The next of these workshops is from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at The Foundry inside Puritan Mill over on Joseph E. Lowery Blvd. – located behind the CRK office on the westside.

The “Tapped Out” presentation does an amazing job of explaining Atlanta’s water crisis and concludes with a step-by-step installation demo. Registrants then walk out with their barrel and installation kit – all for only $40.

Click here to register for the next workshop Tuesday, Nov. 13, at The Foundry. (Click here for map.)

What is a rain barrel? A rain barrel is a system that collects and stores rainwater from your roof that would otherwise be lost to runoff and diverted to storm drains and streams.

Rain barrels are composed of a 60-gallon syrup concentrate drum to selected watershed conservation groups.

Lawn and garden watering can spike to over 40 percent of total household water use during the summer. A rain barrel collects water and stores it for when you need it most -- during periods of drought -- to water plants or wash your car. The rain barrel provides an ample supply of free soft water to homeowners.

Saving water not only helps protect the environment, it also saves you money and energy (decreased demand for treated tap water). Diverting water from storm drains also decreases the impact of runoff to streams and rivers.