Storm drains empty unfiltered water into our local streams, rivers, and ultimately the ocean. During rain storms, the excess flow of water from our streets, roads and sidewalks finds its way into our local waterways. Clear storm drains prevent local flooding, but unfortunately, more than excess water makes its way down the drains. Debris, trash, pet waste, fertilizer and pesticides are some of the most toxic contaminants that wind up in storm drains. Fertilizers, while they might keep your lawn green, get washed down the street where they enter storm drain channels and enter our local waterways. That fertilizer can cause an algae bloom that can kill off marine plants and animals. Pet waste that gets into drains causes the same problems, closing waterways to swimming and fishing because of the threat of parasites and illness.
What Can You Do to Help Keep Stormdrains Clean?
• Pick up pet waste and put it in a trash can
• Pick up trash before it washes into storm drains
• Don’t dump leaves or yard debris into storm drains
• Stop using chemical pesticides and fertilizers
• Don’t dump dirty water or oil into storm drains
Help us keep the South Shore’s waters safe and clean for boating, fishing and swimming, as well as for all the wildlife that call our waters home.
Congratulations to the Winners of Our Twelve Handcrafted Fish Metal Garden Stakes!
Thank you to all the entrants who shared their ideas for helping to keep stormdrains clean. The winners are:
Winners – Name, City
Winner #1 – Tracy Rosser, Pembroke
Winner #2 – Julia Traggorth, Hanover
Winner #3 – Pat Rossi, Marshfield
Winner #4 – Jim Johnson, Weymouth
Winner #5 – John Gallagher, Scituate
Winner #6 – Donna Carresi, Marshfield
Winner #7 – Emily Zanelli, Pembroke
Winner #8 – Patricia Hess, Scituate
Winner #9 – Ramona Mansfield, Hanson
Winner #10 – Holly Mayfield, Norwell
Winner #11 – Caroline Meehan, Scituate
Winner #12 – William Kerrigan, Marshfield
The striped bass metal garden stakes were created by artist Dieter Stipe from designsbydieter on Etsy. Each fish is cut from 20 gauge steel and welded to a sturdy 1/4 inch stake and has a glass marble eye (marble color will vary). There is a metal foot welded at the base for easy step-in. Measures 20” (width of fish) x 37” (total height, including stake). Each fish is hand formed to create a slight curve of the body and fins. Winners were selected by random drawing on Monday, November 21.
WaterSmart is a nonprofit partnership between the NSRWA and 12 towns on the South Shore: Cohasset, Duxbury, Hanover, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Marshfield, Norwell, Pembroke, Rockland, Scituate and Weymouth. Our programs are based on the belief that education is key. Since its creation, WaterSmart has educated thousands of local school-age children, adults, and businesses on water conservation, stormwater pollution, where their water comes from, and how to care for it.