Motorists driving through Livingston County, Mich., are bound to pass the water resources protection signs that have been popping up around area bodies of water.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) storm water regulations require local governments to regulate the amount of polllution coming through storm drains and into bodies of water. County officials decided to post signs to keep compliant with the EPA requirement that local governments educate residents about the problem of storm water runoff and the need for keeping storm water as clean as possible, said Livingston County Drain Commissioner Brian Jonckheere.
The initiative, Jonckheere said, is designed to make people more aware of how their actions--fertilizing the lawn, using pesticides, etc.--impact water quality. "People tend to associate water quality with pouring into the water and don't understand they can have a significant impact," he added.
Legislation enacted and enforced by the EPA and state department of environmental quality over the past several years has successfully reduced industrial discharge. So much so that residential discharge now has a greater impact on water quality, according to Jonckheere. "Our hope is [as a result of the signs] people will call their DPW or township hall and ask about the issues, and it has a snowball effect," he said.
A total of 142 signs is currently being installed. Each sign will be posted near a county wetland, lake, river or creek. By using the Huron River Watershed Council's sign template, Livingston County spent $3,900 for the signs. The final cost, however, will be zero, as each municipality in the county will reimburse the drain commissioner's office for its signs.
"[The municipalities] really stepped up to the plate, and the road commission is installing them free," said Becky Simpson, drain commission water resources coordinator. "A lot of people didn't know the definition of a watershed."
Installation of the 24 x 30-in. signs, which are blue, green and black on a white background, should be completed this fall. Local Boy Scout troops have volunteered to help install the signs. The county's next project will involve identifying local storm drains by placing medallions next to them. The labels will indicate which body of water the drain's contents empty into.
"The real motivation has to come from people, because there are not enough rules to enforce a change in people's behavior," Jonckheere said.
Source: The Ann Arbor News
