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Gateway
Area Storm Sewer Stenciling Project
One of our most daunting environmental problems is that of non-point source pollution. Contaminants to our groundwater, waterways, and atmosphere that cannot be attributed to one particular polluter are termed non-point source pollution. The majority of these materials run off our roads, lawns, farm fields, parking lots, and roofs contributing to an overall decline in environmental quality. This is a difficult issue because there is no one responsible party. Non-point source pollution is a community problem and requires communal solutions. The Gateway Storm Sewer Stenciling Project focuses attention on this issue. This educational project combines the energy and enthusiasm of our elementary and middle school children with the resources and capabilities of local communities and agencies to increase public awareness and action on non point source pollution. The Mississippi River Gateway Project program of the Environmental Protection Agency is specifically focused on this region. Over 80 schools, agencies, and organizations from 18 towns and cities in Madison and St. Clair counties took part in an area-wide awareness project. The students and volunteers, with the help of high school leaders, agency staff, teachers, businesses, and local community members, stenciled warnings on local storm sewers during Earth Week, 1998. These warnings alert the community to the connections between the sewers, habitats, drinking water, environmental quality, and downstream neighbors. Other activities included an awareness project on motor oil recycling and several curricular activities performed in the classroom. Get your own communities organized in a non-point pollution campaign or use it as a project based learning unit in your classroom.
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