Stormwater Drain Markers Stolen

Vandals are stealing drain markers in Thurston County, Washington and no one knows why.

More than 60 small, colorful discs adorned with the words: “no dumping, flows to waterways” and glued on street surfaces and curbs next to stormwater drains have been pried off.

“We’re just baffled why someone would do this,” said Chris Maun, a county Stream Team coordinator.

Each year, up to 750 markers are placed in public rights-of-way either in older neighborhoods by Stream Team volunteers or as a requirement in new housing developments in the unincorporated county.

The markers serve as a public reminder that the only thing that’s supposed to flow down a storm drain is stormwater. When other materials are dumped down the drains, they can pollute the groundwater or nearby streams, lakes or Puget Sound.

The county, and the Washington cities of Lacey and Tumwater recently switched from stenciling the message on pavement near the storm catch basins to fixing the more durable, 4-inch diameter, blue, green and white markers in place.

While the stenciled spray paint wore out, the replacement markers last at least 10 years. They cost about $2 each.

The markers don’t have any value for recycling or known reuse value, so the motive is a mystery, Maun said.

Source: The Olympian