Campeones del Combate Climático: Barrels of Fun!
A huge thank you to our Community Action team for running another successful Campeones del Combate Climático rain barrel workshop. Participants are taking barrels home and getting ready to install them on their houses.
Rain barrels capture stormwater that falls on your roof. Holding onto that water reduces runoff that can carry contaminants from rooftops and streets into rivers and storm drains. It also eases the pressure on the city’s stormwater system.
This workshop was about function and creativity. Participants painted their barrels, giving each one a personal touch while keeping the water cool since hot water encourages bacterial growth. We used repurposed pickle barrels, and a special thanks goes to Rachel’s Table for donating eight 55-gallon, four-foot-tall barrels that will be installed at residences throughout the lower Woonasquatucket watershed.
Rain barrels are perfect for watering lawns, gardens, and plants. While they offer major environmental benefits, be careful when using them for vegetables. Make sure your roof is safe, your water quality is good, and consider getting it tested.
Campeones del Combate Climático is an 18-month advanced leadership program for graduates of Nuevas Voces who are eager to deepen their environmental knowledge and continue leading change in their communities. Focused on flooding, stormwater management, and green infrastructure, residents gain hands-on experience through classroom sessions, site visits, and co-governance opportunities around local infrastructure projects. Campeones work alongside stormwater experts, city engineers, and urban planners to plan, design, and implement green infrastructure projects in their own neighborhoods. Past projects include flood mitigation infrastructure on San Souci Drive and DeSoto Street.
Our rain barrel workshop teaches participants every step of building and installing a barrel and lets them add their own creative designs. By turning stormwater into a resource, Campeones and the community are protecting the river and making neighborhoods more resilient one barrel at a time.