CITY OF MANSFIELD STORM WATER MANAGEMENT
STORM DRAINS
What Does "Don't Feed The Storm Drain" Mean?
Don't Feed the Storm Drain is one of the slogans for the City's stormwater program. It is borrowed from the Don't Feed the Bears signs from some state parks. The objective is basically the same.
It is dangerous to you, others and the environment to place substances and objects down our storm drains. Storm drains are designed to only carry rainfall runoff from our streets into our local waterways. They are not engineered to accept anything except water.
Substances and objects "fed" into our storm drain system end up in our local waterways where they can harm fish and other wildlife, as well as people who enter the polluted waters. Larger objects can actually block up a drainage channel, causing flooding upstream.
Blowing leaves and grass clippings into storm drains, dumping used or unused chemicals down storm drains or on the ground, placing shopping carts in drainage ditches, letting plastic bags blow away, and many other activities feed our storm drains pollution. This kind of "food" for our storm drains has the same effect on the storm drain system as when we eat poisoned food.
How Do I Keep From Feeding The Storm Drain?
There are several links to the left containing information for homeowners and local businesses about how everyday activities can lead to polluted waterways. Learning what activities lead to pollution, and making an effort to change those activities so that they do not pollute our waterways is the best way to stop feeding the storm drain.
Some activities are easier to change than others. If we all try to change some of our activities, we can have a large, positive impact on the quality of our local waterways. This will keep our local waterways safe and clean for everyone to enjoy.
Go to the top of the page.