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BWSR N.E. TEL~218-723-4794 Oct 02 96 13 20 No .002 r.uu <br />The Need <br />Ever wonder where water goes after it "disappears" <br />into a storm drain? Storm water is usually not treated <br />at a waste water treatment plant, but is discharged <br />directly into Minnesota's rivers, lakes and wetlands <br />through outfall pipes. Water runoff carries contami- <br />riants and debris picked up along the way, polluting <br />lakes and streams. It can also contaminate ground <br />water and threaten drinking water supplies. <br />Storm drains are found on every neighborhood. <br />street, in every Minnesota town or city. Their pur- <br />pose is to draw off rainwater to prevent street flood- <br />ing. Rainwater of ten carries street debris--trash, <br />leaves, grass clippings, pet wastes, car fluids-into <br />storm drains. Tn addition, hazardous chemicals, <br />pesticides, paints, antifrneze, and used motor oil <br />often end up in storm drains when people improp- <br />erlydispose of these substances by dumping them in <br />the street or down a storm drain. <br />extension s Response <br />)n response to this need and as part of the Minnesota <br />Extension Service`s (MES}focus on water quality, l0 <br />pilot communities in northern and central Minnesota <br />were involved in a storm drain stenciling project <br />called "Paint the Town." The program provided an <br />opportunity for volunteers to paint a slogan near <br />storm drains: "Don't Dump-Drains to the (name} <br />River (or lake}." <br />April 1994 <br />FS-6277-S <br />DON'S D~9 P <br />r i t <br />i i i r <br />The reusable, mylar stencil identifying the local water <br />resource (15"x26") was used to paint the gutter area <br />or directly on the street near the storm drain. At the <br />same time the drains were stenciled, homes and <br />businesses in the area received leaIlets describing the <br />project and asking area residents for help in keeping <br />the drains free of chemicals, debris and other wastes. <br />The Results . <br />"Paint the Town" campaigns have taken place in 14 <br />pilot communities across the state this past year. In <br />northern Minnesota the Area Water Quality Speaal- <br />ist, funded by MES and the Board of Water and Soil <br />Resource (BWSR}, secured a grant for storm drain <br />stenciling. The pilot communities were Duluth, <br />MtxivasorAExreNSiarj SeRVtcE <br />LJxrvr~smr o} Nt-nr~v~'~ <br />