Many people think that water pollution is caused by big business or large government facilities - places with pipes leading into the river. These are known as "point source" polluters. However, in recent years these sources have greatly reduced their negative impact on water quality. As a result, stormwater run-off is now one of the leading causes of surface water pollution in DuPage County, according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Run-off is a "non-point" source of pollution, meaning the ultimate source of the pollution cannot be identified.  Pollutants are used on lawns, left on driveways and roads, and allowed to go down curbside gutters into storm drains.

Since there is usually no treatment facility between storm drains and the river or strem, allowing these materials to go into a storm drain is the same as going up to a stream bank and dumping them in. Storm Drain Stenciling helps inform communities of this, because if people were more aware of the water drainage system, they would likely be more careful what they allow to go down storm drains.  Volunteers in the storm drain stenciling program stencil messages such as "Dump No Waste - Drains to River" on community storm drains and log their efforts.  Data is then submitted to the national organization sponsoring the program, The Center for Marine Conservation.  All supplies for storm drain stenciling in DuPage County are provided by The Conservation Foundation.

For complete details on how to become a storm drain stenciling volunteer, click here.

Storm Drain Stenciling has been in DuPage County since 1992. However, stencils wear off and have to be restenciled regularly, so it is an ongoing program.