Introduction

In Cary, as in most cities and towns in North Carolina, you’ll find storm drains and catch basins along our streets and in many yards. What most people don’t realize is that these drains lead DIRECTLY TO OUR RIVERS AND STREAMS, not to a wastewater treatment plant. Consequently, pollutants such as motor oil, fertilizers, yard wastes, and litter find their way into our rivers, streams, and oceans via these drains, carried by rain that becomes stormwater runoff. The result for our downstream neighbors can be disastrous as these polluted streams are often their source for drinking water.

To help improve the condition of our fragile waterways, the Town of Cary has joined with a number of other communities in raising awareness about stormwater issues. One method is the storm drain stenciling program.

The Stenciling Program

Storm drain stenciling is a statewide coordinated effort to paint educational messages on storm drains (catch basins and yard inlets) that lead directly to nearby creeks, streams, lakes, coastal waters, and the ocean. In Cary for example, hundreds of yard inlets and catch basins empty into Kildaire Farm Lake, which flows to Swift Creek. This creek supplies drinking water to Raleigh and Garner's via Lake Wheeler and Lake Benson. Swift Creek then flows into the Neuse River near Smithfield. In other parts of Cary, runoff flows through storm drains to Jordan Lake, Cary's own drinking water supply. The stenciling program uses volunteers to literally paint onto the vertical face of residential storm drain covers this message: "FLOWS TO NEUSE RIVER" or "FLOWS TO THE CAPE FEAR RIVER." The purpose is to alert people how what flows into storm drains affects water supplies.

Getting Involved

Volunteers should be at least 10 years of age. Individuals may want to stencil drains in their neighborhood. School groups, Scouts, 4-H groups and other community organizations may want to take on a larger area. Stenciling takes about 10 minutes per drain.

The Town will provide training that includes a video on stenciling, written instructions, a map of the area, and labeling materials.

If you are interested in helping or have stenciling kits to return, please contact:

Matthew Flynn
Stormwater Program Analyst
matt.flynn@townofcary.org

Call (919) 469-4090 if you see a storm drain that is damaged or clogged or observe improper dumping into a storm drain or stream.

Links

Neuse River Foundation