The Lucas County engineer’s office teamed up with Partners for Clean Streams and Erie Shores Council Boy Scouts to educate the community on the importance of keeping storm drains clear and clean to help protect Lake Erie.
Almost 30 boy scouts and more than a dozen parents joined LCEO and PCS officials June 7 to canvass several neighborhoods around Springfield Township and spray paint a message next to each storm drain. The message reads “Lake Erie starts here. Dump no waste.”
Storm drains are not sewers, meaning they are not filtered or cleaned, so anything that flows into them goes directly into our waterways. It is important to keep them clean and avoid dumping anything into them.
“You would be surprised how much physical trash and liquids make their way into our storm drains,” said Bob Neubert, engineering technician with LCEO and board of directors president for Partners for Clean Streams. “So, it’s important the public knows to keep these clean.”
Over the course of the day, volunteers were split into five groups. Each person took turns sweeping the drains clear, placing a stencil next to each drain and spray painting it onto the street. Volunteers also placed educational handouts in mailboxes. At the end of the day, 529 catch basins were marked and more than 1,500 flyers distributed. That is the most we’ve been able to reach in the past three years.
Lucas and Wood County were represented by scout troops 87, 103, 104, 123, 167, 198, 200, 210 and 314.
“Not only are we educating the public, we also are teaching these kids who are doing the work not to dump into storm drains,” Mr. Neubert added. “These are future homeowners, neighbors and community leaders and we hope they take this message back home to their family, friends and neighbors.”
LCEO and PCS organized the event, which has been held every other year since 2010. It became an annual event in 2020.
The county engineer’s office is required under its MS4 permit from the Ohio EPA to reach out and educate the public on the importance of stormwater management.
A second cleanup will be held Wednesday, August 9. For more information, call 419-213-2860.
