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Some stormwater infrastructure projects fulfill their duties immediately. Others, however, require a bit of time and ingenuity, according to Sound Rivers Program Director Clay Barber.

Clay was at the scene of one of Sound Rivers’ first rainwater harvesting cistern installs this week, determining a workaround for a large cistern at New Bern High School that hasn’t had the opportunity to fulfill its purpose.

“Once upon a time, the plan was to tie the cistern into their athletic fields’ irrigation system, but because of a series of unfortunate events, it’s never been used, and it stays full,” Clay said. “I’d like to repair that situation.”

Though New Bern High School has built a new greenhouse for its Ag program, which is a prime sport for a relocated rainwater harvesting cistern, its size — 6,000 gallons — is a deterrent.

“As much as I do love these tanks and how they look, it would look pretty weird next to the new greenhouse, because it’s not a tall building,” Clay said.

A potential solution could be a swap: trade New Bern High School’s larger tank for a smaller one at West Craven High School, which could potentially be used to water West Craven’s raised bed gardens.

“I’m in problem solving mode, and I think West Craven High School might appreciate having a bigger tank,” Clay said.

Sound Rivers’ Campus Stormwater Program has built stormwater management projects at public schools across the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico watersheds, providing natural solutions to erosion, flooding a water quality.

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