2018 Storm Drain Markers

Storm Drain Markers make people aware that every storm drain in Rockland County empties into a river, stream, reservoir, wetland, pond or the Hudson River. A common denominator of all residents is the storm drain system in the street near our homes. Unaware, people may think that the waste goes to our sewage disposal plants, but pollutants instead go into storm drains and thus directly into our streams and rivers. The problem includes yard waste, paint, waste oil, pesticides, pet droppings and other household hazardous waste.

The Rockland County Division of Environmental Resources was eager to protect Rockland County's water resources from such pollution by initiating the Storm Drain Marker Program. We created a low-tech, educational project that would emanate like a ripple in a pond - neighborhood to neighborhood. The program assists citizens and municipalities to apply storm drain markers at local storm drains. The 2-1/2 inch, round, plastic markers carry the message, "No Dumping Drains to Stream," and feature a picture of a fish. An educational brochure for distribution to residents accompanies the markers.

When people see the markers and read the brochure, they will get the message that each of us can help to safeguard our water supply by ensuring, "only rain goes down the drain".