Students from Stowe Elementary School mark catch basins (storm drains) with
"No dumping - drains to river" in the Smithville neighborhood.
If your group would like to participate, contact:
Todd Carlson
City of Duluth
Stormwater Utility Operations
tcarlson @ci.duluth.mn.us
218-730-4130
Read about storm drain marking in other communities at the following site:
University of Wisconsin, Extension
Storm Drain Marking:
Preventing Water Pollution
Storm Drains Do Not Flow to Water Treatment Facilities
Your group can help inform the citizens in Duluth neighborhoods
that the catch basins (storm drains) they see on their streets
are not connected to a treatment facility.
Public outreach is a component of the EPA National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit held
by the City of Duluth. The EPA encourages catch basin stenciling
and marking because "Storm drain stenciling projects offer
an excellent opportunity to educate the public about the link
between the storm drain system and drinking water quality.
In addition to the labeled storm drains, media coverage of
the program or stenciling event can increase public awareness
of storm water issues. Volunteer groups can provide additional
benefits by picking up trash near the stenciled storm drains
and by noting where maintenance is needed. Additionally, stenciling
projects can provide a lead-in to volunteer monitoring projects
and increase community participation in a variety of other
storm water-related activities."
(from EPA NDPES website)
In addition to marking in-place
catch basins, the City of Duluth has distributed a stamp to
local contractors and is encouraging them to use it in new
construction. (see picture at Urban
Hydrology) You can also help keep the drains from clogging up and even help reduce the amount of sediment (sand and dirt) that wash in. Read about Duluth’s Sand Sweep-Up and Storm Drain Adoption programs.
If your group would like to the assist the city in its efforts,
contact Todd Carlson of the City of Duluth (contact info
in blue box).
