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 New Products: Reflective Pavement Markers,
Confined Space Markers
Drain Marking Takes St. Mary Parish by Storm!
Kelly Taylor with the Teche/Vermillion Blue Thumb Project in Louisiana provided us with the following article from the "Blue Thumb Prints" newsletter:
 In December 2000, students from two schools in St. Mary Parish left the classroom behind and headed into their communities to help give Acadiana's water a hand.
After participating in a Blue Thumb water pollution demonstration, members of the 4-H Club at Baldwin Elementary School decided to help spread the word about water pollution prevention in their community. Donning orange safety vests, 15 students and three chaperones headed out to Main Street with storm drain markers and informational brochures in hand.
Four-inch Duracast one color custom das Curb Marker
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Students worked in groups of five to apply the storm drain markers. A small area above or next to each drain was cleaned with a wire brush. After applying epoxy to the back of the marker, it was attached firmly to the curb. At the same time, a group of students left pollution prevention information at each home or business that was within view of a marked stormed drain. When it was all said and done, the students attached 40 storm drain markers in just under two hours.
Matching door hanger used by the Blue Thumb Project
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Similarly, in Berwick, where Bayou Teche drains into the Atchafalaya, 34 students from the Berwick Elementary School Beta Club marked 54 storm drains. Marking drains in the neighborhood behind their school, students were able to give the Teche AND the Atchafalaya a helping hand!
While marking drains, students at both schools assisted with nationwide collection of storm drain data for the Center for Marine Conservation (CMC), head-quartered in Virginia.
As part of the the Million Points of Blight program sponsored by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the CMC, students took note of the different types of debris found around each storm drain and recorded these observations on a data card. This information is used by the Center to document the debris types found in and around the drains. The data are also used to create a national map of areas that have participated in the program.
Students at both schools found an interesting mix of debris around the drains they marked - cigarette butts, straws, newspapers, paper bags, grass clipping, leaves, pine needles and sugar cane stalks - just to name a few items. Whenever possible, students removed the debris and properly disposed of it.
As the students at Baldwin and Berwick Elementary Schools have proven, this activity is an ideal half day service project for groups who are interested in helping the environment. Not only is storm drain marking a unique way to get your organization out into the community, but it is also a successful way to educate the community about the impact they have on our local waterways. If you are interested in scheduling a storm drain marking event or need more information, call 337.896.0362.
Friendly fish markers to help keep Largo waterways clean
Below is an article sent to us by Mike Sepessy that appeared in the"Largo Leader".
 LARGO - Anyone in Largo attempting to dump household chemicals, motor oil, grass clippings or other pollutants into storm drains soon will be met face-to-face by a smiling fish, warning them that items dumped into storm drains flow directly into area waterways. Colorful markers on drains featuring a fish, with the words, "No dumping. Flows into area waterways" are being placed on Largo storm drains in an effort to educate the public about the function and purpose of storm drains.
Five-inch Duracast two color custom das Curb Marker
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"Many people are under the impression that motor oil, pesticides, household chemicals and other materials going down a storm drain pass through a treatment plant where the water will be purified," said Mike Sepessy, an environmental specialist with the Largo Engineering Division. "What they don't realize is that all those harmful materials are flowing straight into adjacent ponds, canals, rivers, lakes and bays. We're inadvertently polluting the waters we swim in, fish in and use every day."
Matching door hanger used by the City of Largo
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In addition to the markers, Americorps volunteers are distributing door hangers with information on how to reduce the amount of pollutants distributed into local storm drains. City officials hope that the educational campaign will remind residents of the consequences of dumping harmful materials in a seemingly harmless place.
For more information, call 587-6713, Ext. 4405.
Mike successfully used das Curb Markers for a number of years to mark reclaimed water valves and service for the City of Largo. When he moved into stormwater he decided to use the markers on storm inlets. Additionally, coordinated magnets, door hangers, and water bottles were provided by das.
Curb
Marker Design Contest
As
part of their public education and outreach program, the City of Sioux Falls,
S.D. had a curb marker contest. Children ages 8-12 were encouraged to submit designs.
The editorials and ads used to announce the contest also provided an educational
message.
Below
is the prize winning das Curb Marker.
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custom storm drain marker won the children's design contest in Sioux Falls, South
Dakota. | |
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