The Storm Drain is for Rain

The Storm Drain is For Rain is a Foundation Issue because it lays the framework for your citizens to understand more complex stormwater issues. The goal of the Storm Drain is for Rain campaign is to teach your citizens that the rainwater that runs off of their roofs, lawns, driveways, streets and business goes directly to streams, not to the wastewater treatment plant. If your citizens do not understand the direct connection between their activities and local water quality, it will be difficult to motivate them to take action to improve it.

An integral part of “The Storm Drain is for Rain” topic is teaching  your citizens about illicit discharges (see Measure 3). Explain to your citizens that they must NEVER dump chemicals, yard waste or garbage into the storm drain inlet. Also, make them aware of how to report any incidents of illicit discharges that they might observe. Public education about illicit discharges is one of the BMPs required under Measure 3. Combining this message with “The Storm Drain is for Rain” campaign is likely to be more efficient and effective for your jurisdiction.

Target Audience

All citizens in your jurisdiction.

Approaches

One of the most effective and inexpensive ways to educate citizens about the link between the storm drain system and water quality is storm drain marking. Media coverage of the program or storm drain marking event can also increase public awareness. It is important to utilize the media as much as possible as you cover this topic to help your citizens see the connection between storm drains and their local streams.

Existing Educational Materials

Do not use any materials on this website without first contacting the sponsoring organization and obtaining their permission.

Public Outreach

• Drain Markers (Greensboro, NC)
• Storm Drain Marking (Charlotte, NC)

Mass Media: TV Advertising and PSAs

• Fowl Water (City of San Diego, CA) explains how pollution travels from streets and yards into storm drains and eventually our waterways. Contact the City of San Diego at 619-525-8649.

Public Venues: Signs and Billboards

• Watershed Signs (Piedmont-Triad Water Quality Partnership)

Public Venues: Events

• Family Lake Day (Maine DEP)

Videos

• Down the Drain: How North Carolina Communities Manage Stormwater Runoff
• Fowl Water (City of San Diego, CA) uses rubber duckies to show how pollution from the land winds up in storm drains. Contact the City of San Diego at 619-525-8649.
• Don’t Trash our Future (City of San Diego, CA) teaches children not to put trash in storm drains. Contact the City of San Diego at 619-525-8649.

Giveaways

• Book Covers for Students (Maine DEP)
• The Storm Drain is for Rain Door Hanger (NC Cooperative Extension)

Print Materials: Brochures

• Nonpoint Source Water Pollution (Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials)
• Impacts of Development on Waterways (Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials)

Lesson Materials for Schools

• Enviroscapes School Programs
• Desdemona’s Splash: A computer game about water quality and the environment
• Stormwater Pollution: What’s Wrong with this Picture? (Fort Worth, TX)

Websites

• Storm Drain System (Charlotte, NC)