Storm Drain How-to

ShowT-tOo gRuidMe: DRA

Robert Lawton

AINS

WELCOME F

T
and

drains, your class can draw mo
prompt a community discussio
your local waterways. This can
pesticides, fertilizers and more!

First, this is going to be really fun!
Thank you for helping your students
d community learn about stormwater

runoff by marking storm drains!

This how-to guide will
equip you with the steps
for marking storm
drains. Storm drains can
be found throughout
your community and
many who pass by have
WBALTV11 no idea where they lead.
By marking storm

ore attention to storm drains and
on about the pollution entering
include oil, gas, anitfreeze, trash,

OstepVoEneR: VIEW

Stencil Ease To
to
per
Th
ava
ord
cut
ma
the
So
Dis
ste

mark storm drains, you will need
identify storm drains, ask for
rmission and gather supplies.
here are many different stencils
ailable online that can either be
dered or used as a reference to
t out your own. Additionally, you
ay ask local partners, such as
e locality, 4H extension office,
oil and Water Conservation
strict, or, nonprofit if they have a
encil that your class may use.

sPteEp tRwoM: ISSION

To mark storm drains, you
the storm drains are in your
you would like to mark. Identify
areas will be ideal for spa
and awareness. Second, you
your locality. This is imperative
locality manages the storm dra
Town’s Administrative Office or co
Works directly. You could do this
develop a proposal describing
drain awareness and benefits that

N

will need to identify where
community and which drains
ying storm drains in high traffic
arking community conversation
need to ask permission from
e in moving forward as the
ains. Contact your County’s or
ontact the department of Public
s yourself or have the students
g the importance of storm
t they present to the community.

CsteOp thMreeM: UNITY

City of Richmond, Department of Public Utilities

Once permission has been
granted, you and your class

Y should begin developing
public service announcements,
posters and letters to explain
to the community what the
storm drain markings mean
and why they are important.
This will not only spread

information in
the community,
but will also
help students
better
understand
stormwater
runoff issues.

& your community!

SsteAp foFuEr: TY

Safety is very important when
marking storm drains as they
typically run along streets. You
should review the following rules
with students:
• Wear orange vests while

working along roads
• Always have adult supervision
• No horseplay with paints or

along roads
• If it looks dangerous, don’t do it

George Cesnik

SsteUp fiPveP: LIES

Brigitt Martin

Supplies may be provided
by the school, locality or
partner organization. The
following supplies are needed:
• Orange vests
• Stencils
• Cleaning cloth
• Cleaning spray
• Can of paint or spray-can

(brushes and stirrer if can)
• List of locations
• “Wet paint” signs
• Tape
• Drop cloth
• *Optional: Medallion with liquid

nail glue

sSteTp sEix:NCIL DAY

Before going to stencil, you may
your students can work in small gro
one another and you have enough
student wears an orange safety v
safety procedures. Before marking
you are going to stencil and place a d
not get in places you do not want. F
stencil above the storm drain. Onc
with a paint brush or with a spray can
before removing the stencil. Once th
a “wet paint” sign on each drain so o
markings. These signs will need to

AY!

wish to have multiple stencils so
oups if the storm drains are close to
h adult supervision. Make sure each
vest and understands the different

the storm drains, clean the space
drop cloth on the ground so paint does
Following the cleaning, tape down the
ce in place, paint the stencil either
n. Let the paint dry for a few minutes
he marking is done be sure to tape
others do not accidentally walk on the

be picked up after the paint dries.

GstepEsTeveCn: REATI

Suburban Acres Civic League

adhesive glue such as liquid nails. T
some organizations will partner wit
need to use medallions. Check out
additional resources for storm drain m

IVE

You can also have students design
murals that can be painted onto
the curb with traffic paint. This
method of marking allows for
students to express creativity and
tell a more elaborate story of the
magnitude of a storm drain!
You can also use storm drain
medallions which are affixed
to the storm drain using an
This can be a pricier option although
th you to provide the supplies you
t the “more information” section for
marking.

Painting ideas!

Racheal Stahlman & Sabra Morin

Storm Drain Reveal
James River Basin

QUESTIONS

If you are interested in marking
storm drains or have questions
about the process or this how-to
guide, please contact:

Friends of the Rappahannock

Headquarters: 3219 Fall Hill Avenue
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
540.373.3448
Tidal: Post Office Box 1459
Tappahannock, VA 22560
804.443.3448

[email protected] • riverfriends.org

More information:

S • Chesapeake Bay
Foundation - Storm Drain
Stenciling
• Blue Water Baltimore -
Storm Drain Art
• askHRgreen.org - Storm
Drain Medallion Program

fNunOdeAd bAy: Chesap
Watershed E
and Trainin

Robert Lawton

peake Bay
Education
ng Grant