Many storm drains in #MiddletownRI lead directly to the ocean, but most aren't marked. A group of local volunteers is looking to change that in the Easton's Point neighborhood Saturday.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Matt Sheley at (401) 842-6543 or msheley@middletownri.com
MAKING A DIFFERENCE, ONE STORM DRAIN AT A TIME
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (SEPTEMBER 16, 2024) – Sometimes, it feels like one person can’t make a real difference in today’s world.
This cannot be said when it comes to cleaning up stormwater runoff in Middletown.
Contrary to popular belief, throwing the wrong item down a storm drain — like a doggie poop bag or a plastic bottle — can have a major impact on Easton’s Bay and beyond.
That’s why a group of volunteers is holding a storm drain labelling event Saturday, Sept. 21 at 10 am at 535 Wolcott Ave. in the Easton’s Point neighborhood, which is located in the southern end of town. The rain date is Sunday, Sept. 22 at 2 pm. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
To sign up, visit https://mdl.town/Storm-Drain-Marking online.
“A lot of people don’t realize that the storm drains in Easton’s Point, and a lot of other neighborhoods in Middletown, go directly into the water,” said Melissa Welch, one of the event organizers. “Along with rain water, any pollutants that flow into those drains — such as litter, pet waste, and lawn chemicals — end up in our coastal waters.”
Pollution from storm drains not only contributes to unhealthy levels of microplastics, toxic chemicals and bacteria in our coastal waters, Welch said, it also feeds algae blooms that generate excess seaweed on our beaches.
“You know when you go swimming and there’s all sorts of seaweed in the water?” Welch said. “Well, the fertilizers and pesticides flow into these storm drains and off our lawns and make it easier for seaweed to thrive and grow. It’s something more people need to be aware of because it’s having a negative impact on our environment.”
Going back two decades, Middletown has been working hard to reduce and eliminate the number of pollutants flowing into the waters off Aquidneck Island.
The town has spent millions upgrading its above and under ground sewer network to limit overflows during heavy rainstorms. Local leaders have also worked hard to limit illegal connections and other pollution flowing into the stormwater network, which functions independently of the sewer system in Middletown.
Recently, the Town Council approved a recommended policy from the Planning Board limiting the use of fertilizers and pesticides on area lawns, seen as one way to reduce contaminated rainwater runoff.
Welch said the storm drain marking event came up as a result of the success Save The Bay has had with the program in other communities. The Providence-based nonprofit has worked with communities throughout Rhode Island to improve awareness about stormwater issues and their wide-ranging impacts.
As part of the event, blue, white and green discs reading “Don’t Dump — Drains To Bay” will be affixed to each storm drain in the neighborhood. The disc also provides a contact number to call to properly dispose of unwanted materials.
Presenting the idea at a recent meeting, Town Council members applauded Welch for her hard work and asked if she was interested in spearheading a campaign to mark storm drains throughout Middletown.
“This will be a good start,” Welch said about the Sept. 21 event. “Hopefully it will get some conversation going and spark some interest in other neighborhoods where these are needed.”
Document Link: https://mdl.town/Drain-Mark