This post was written by Hatchet reporter Celine Bartels-Mills.
The Department of Energy and Environment awarded GW’s community garden $5,900 last month to install a rainwater collection system.
Kayla Williams, a rising senior and a GroW Garden community manager, said in an email that the system will collect water during storms to use to water the garden’s plants.
“We anticipate the grant covering the costs of the rain barrels without extra funding, although nothing has yet been purchased,” Williams said.
The grant was awarded to the organization as part of the DDOE’s goal of keeping stormwater runoff out of D.C. rivers.
Staff in the Division of Operations worked closely with GroW garden volunteers during the application process for the grant and suggested the group apply to fund rain barrels, Williams said.
Shannon Ross, the stakeholder engagement coordinator in the Office of Sustainability, said the grant will raise awareness on campus about environmental issues.
“A major value comes from the educational opportunity since the high visibility of this new feature will help educate GW students on this issue and show them how they can individually make an impact,” Ross said in an email.