Storm Drain Marking Program

After a rainstorm, street litter ends up in local streams, transported by the stormwater drain system.

The Storm Drains in your community feed into your local creeks, and the waters eventually reach the Chesapeake Bay.  They are commonly misused by the public for the disposal of waste such as paint, motor oil, antifreeze, pesticides and other pollutants. This improper disposal can seriously damage water quality and the environment.  Help make Montgomery County a “Greener” place - mark all storm drains in your community and Spread the Message of Water Conservation.

Drain markers help inform and educate the public that most storm drains go directly into our rivers.   they iInstall quickly and easily using permanent adhesive which is cleaner and more environmentally friendly than paint and stencils.

THE STORM DRAIN MARKING PROGRAM
APPLICATION

Door Hangers as requested.  This is a good tool to inform surrounding neighbors about the markers and make them aware of storm drain pollution going to our rivers.

Wire Brush as requested.  They are assigned out for one month from the date of the project.  The drains surface must be clean, dry and free of any loose debris in order for the glue to adhere.

Door Hanger

Installation Instructions

She contributed 10 hours to this effort marking 107 storm drains with markers "Don't Dump, Chesapeake Bay Drainage" in the Bethesda area.  The Cabin John Citizens' Association enthusiastically supported her in this effort.

 Trash Free Potomac Watershed Initiative

Roadside trash and litter is carried by rainfall runoff through the storm drain system into local streams and eventually into the Potomac River. Most local streams in the County flow into either the Potomac or the Anacostia River (the Anacostia flows into the Potomac River also). Trash in our streams and rivers is unsightly and unhealthy. We are pursuing an aggressive policy to control trash in our streams, because we believe it is sound fiscal and public health policy to prevent trash from polluting our primary source of drinking water—the Potomac River.

The county’s commitment to a Trash-free Potomac River by 2013 is written into the County’s legally binding stormwater permit.

MCDOT provides funding and staff support to the regional public outreach component of this initiative.  The County Executive and several members of the County Council have signed the Trash Treaty which enlists the support of local jurisdictions in working to achieve a trash-free Potomac River by 2013. 

For more information, visit the Alice Ferguson Foundation  website, sponsor of this initiative.

Report Stormwater Pollution!

Polluting storm drains is against the law! If you see or suspect a violation of the County's stormwater permit, such as people washing or pouring oil, paint, or other liquids into a storm drain or otherwise deliberately introducing pollutants down a storm drain, use DEP's online form, call 240.777.7700, or email DEP at mailto:askdep@montgomerycountymd.gov?subject=Stormwater Pollution to report it!

TAKE THIS SURVEY!!
www.surveymonkey.com/WRIS

Water Quality is important to everyone!
Did you know that the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is creating an improvement strategy that involves you?

DEP has established the following watershed improvement goals for the County:

1. Runoff Management
2. Pollutant Management
3. Trash Reduction
4. Stream Resources Protection

To meet objectives laid out within these areas, DEP will be developing a Restoration Strategy and a Public Outreach and Stewardship Plan to educate and engage you in helping to meet these goals.  In order to make this happen we need your help! The County needs the opinions of all of its residents on the current environmental stewardship programs that are offered in the county.  Please take a minute to tell us your thoughts so that we can improve our programs and provide the best service to County residents and improve the health of the watersheds.

 Related Topics

• Stormwater Facility Retrofit Techniques
• Stream Restoration Benefits
• Stream Restoration Techniques
• Stream Damage Caused by Stormwater Pollution
• Low Impact Development
• Restoration Projects in the County
• RainScapes Program
• Rockville City Storm Drain Marker Program
• WTOP Report - Wet weather washing more pollution into the Chesapeake 

Please email mcdot.outreach@montgomerycountymd.gov your comments or suggestions, including broken links, for this page