Members of the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) WEF Eco program participated in the City of Alexandria’s storm-drain marking program on Nov. 4. Participants marked 52 drains near WEF headquarters with stickers that warn against illicit dumping.
The program began through a citywide ordinance called the “Only Rain Down The Drain Campaign,” according to Gavin Pellitteri, water quality compliance specialist for the City of Alexandria.
“It was an effort to reduce pollutants going into stormwater inlets,” Pellitteri said. “The Clean Virginia Water Partners surveyed Northern Virginia households and found that most residents didn’t realize that their stormwater drains actually go into the nearest watershed, and they don’t go to the sanitary authority.”
“I don’t think it’s out of mal-intent,” he said. “They might have leftover solvents or paints, or any type of liquid waste. It’s an out-of-sight, out-of-mind conclusion to let it float down the storm drain.”
That’s why the campaign involves not only marking storm drains, but also educating the public, said Pellitteri.
“Of course [the campaign has] been a benefit to us because it helps us mark inlets, keep an inventory of what inlets need to be marked, and keep track of those that have. But it acts as a form of public outreach and communication, too.”
WEF Eco – which organizes events for WEF staff related to enhancing local environmental sustainability – first came into contact with the city’s storm-drain marking program through WEF’s Pallavi Raviprakash.
“Over the summer, I did this with my daughters around my house,” Raviprakash said. “And since WEF Eco was looking for different volunteering and community service opportunities, I suggested this.”
“This seemed like an easy enough thing to accomplish during lunch hour without a whole lot of preparation,” she said. “I am so glad that this worked out.”
─ Will Fowler, WEF Highlights
November 20, 2019
WEF Resources & Efforts