Storm Drain Stenciling

Washington County's Storm Drain Stenciling program provides an opportunity to learn, help the environment and have fun—all at once! Groups may borrow materials to paint the message “Dump No Waste, Drains To Stream” by neighborhood storm drains to help educate residents about the storm drain connection. We lend interested groups all the necessary supplies and stencils and provide them maps of areas that need storm drain stencils based on your location.

 Stormwater runoff is rainwater that does not infiltrate/soak into the ground. It is rainwater that flows over grass, bare ground, driveways, roads, roofs, through gutters before flowing into storm drains or the nearest waterway. Storm drains are not the same as storm sewers. All the water that flows into storm drains, flows through underground pipes before discharging into the nearest stream. Since stormwater runoff flows over multiple surfaces before it gets to a storm drain or waterway, it can pick up excess pollutants such as dirt, grease, and trash before entering a storm drain or waterway. Storm drains deliver large volumes of water to streams much faster than would occur naturally, resulting in flooding and bank erosion. Stream inhabitants such as fish, salamanders, or mussels are stressed, displaced, or killed by the warm, fast moving water and the sediment or pollutants it brings with it. It is important to keep trash out of storm drains so it doesn't run into our stream! 

 

Storm Drain Stenciling Kit (pdf)