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BWSR N.E. TEL~218-723-4794 Oct 02 96 13 20 No .002 P.U4 <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 />nants 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 am 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 often carries street debris-trash, <br />leaves, grass clippings, pet wastes, carfluids-into <br />storm drains. In addition, hazardous chemicals, <br />pesticides, paints, antifreeze, 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 dawn a storm drain. <br />.Extension's esponse <br />In response to this need and as part of the Minnesota <br />extension Service`s (MFS) 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'pown." 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 {ar lake) ,~ <br />Aprit 2ss4 <br />FS-6277-5 <br />DON'T DUMP <br />t <br />i i s <br />The reusable, mylar stencil identifying the local water <br />resource (1.5"x26"} was used to paint the gutter area <br />or directly on the street near the storan drain. At the <br />same time the drains were stenciled, homes and <br />businesses in the area received leaflets describing the <br />project and asking azea residents far help in keeping <br />the drains free of chemicals, debris and other wastes. <br />The estts <br />"Paint the Town" campaigns have taken place in 10 <br />pilot communities across the state this past year. In <br />northern Minnesota the Area Water Quality Special- <br />ist, funded by MES and the Board of Water and Soil <br />Resource {BWSR}, secured a grant for etozm drain <br />stenciling. The pilot communities were Duluth, <br />txivasoTA ExreNS~ort SERVICE <br />LIMVOt$17Y OF MIMMP-ETA <br />