COLUMBIA, S.C. — Thinking about starting a garden and wanting some tools that can help save on your water bills and soil enrichment routines? Columbia Water and Richland County Stormwater are once again offering 50-gallon rain barrels and 65-gallon compost bins at a discounted price to encourage residents to conserve water and reduce household food scraps going into local landfills.
The annual sale offers the Ivy rain barrels at half price ($75 rather than the normal retail price of $149) and the compost bins for $65, both while supplies last. Interested individuals can place an order online now for pickup on March 23 between noon and 2 p.m. at the City of Columbia Water Department, 3000 Harden St. There will be NO on-site sales. The deadline for placing an order is March 13, 2024.
When you place your order, you can also opt to attend Backyard Landscapers workshops on how to set up and use your rain barrel and/or compost bin on April 6. The time and location of the workshop is yet to be determined but will be sent to those who sign up.
The rain barrel comes with a 6-foot overflow hose that can also be used to help water nearby plantings, a screen and screen ring to keep out trash and leaves, two resealable zip ties, an overflow cap and plastic 3/4" ball valve. You can place a rain barrel or two anywhere in a garden or under an eave or gutter to collect rain water and save money on your water bill. There are also YouTube instructions on how to set up and use rain barrels and compost bins linked to the ordering page.
