Stormdrain Stenciling

Stormdrain Stenciling Forum

Connors Emmerson School

Have you ever noticed the yellow messages stenciled next to storm drains around town that say “Dump no Waste, Drains to Bay”?  This is the work of island third-graders to educate the community about storm water runoff.

Why Stencil Storm Drains?

In a recent poll, more than half the people surveyed in Bar Harbor did not know that storm water drains directly into Frenchman Bay without being treated or even passing through a treatment plant.  Any pollutants entering storm drains ends up in the water.  This is the same water we depend on for our livelihoods, food, recreation, enjoyment, and as a tourist attraction.  The fish on the stencil reminds us that whatever goes in the storm drains persists in the environment, continuing to affect plants and animals in the area.

What is Storm Water Runoff?

Storm water runoff is water that doesn’t seep into the ground after it rains.  It flows over roads, lawns, construction sites, and parking lots and collects in drainage ditches, where it is piped to the ocean without being treated or filtered.  As storm water runs over land, it picks up whatever pollutants are present.  Pollutants often include fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides from lawns, pet waste, oil and other petroleum products, road salt, sediment, and trash.  Erosion of soils also plays a major role in pollution of storm water.  As soil erodes into streams and storm drains, pollutants are released into the aquatic environment, where they are easily absorbed by plants and animals.

What can I do to Prevent Pollution from Storm Water Runoff?

The easiest way to prevent pollutants from entering the ocean through storm water runoff is to reduce the use of potential pollutants.  For example, testing your soil will tell you exactly how much fertilizer your lawn needs and using mulch not only keeps weeds down, but also holds moisture.  Never dump detergents, wastewater, or trash on your driveway or the street.  An important preventative measure is to properly dispose of hazardous materials like oil and antifreeze.  Citizens can ask their town officials and neighbors to follow Best Management Practices (BMPs) at construction sites, marinas, in development, at farms, and golf courses, when building septic systems, in fields and in woodlots.  BMPs for curbing storm water runoff include techniques like creating vegetative buffer strips to decrease the amount of runoff entering streams, disposing of waste in designated containers, and covering exposed soil as quickly as possible.