Stencil a Storm Drain
Get outside, volunteer, and join us in helping raise awareness about stormwater pollution and water quality in Seattle neighborhoods.
Why are storm drains important?
Storm drains convey water from our streets and other hard surfaces to prevent flooding. Once rainwater hits the ground, it becomes stormwater. As stormwater travels to the nearest storm drain, it collects pollutants such as gasoline, motor oil, soaps, pesticides, fertilizers, pet waste, and garbage that may be on roads, lawns, or sidewalks. Storm drains then direct this polluted water through underground pipes and into local waterways such as urban creeks, Lake Washington, the Duwamish River or Puget Sound.
What does stenciling do?
Stenciling storm drain messages like "Dump No Waste / Drains to Puget Sound" reminds our community that what goes into the drain will end up in local waterways, directly affecting people and wildlife. When people make the connection between storm drains and local waters, they are less likely to dump pollutants like soaps, paints, antifreeze, and used motor oil into storm drains. Stencils might also inspire people to adopt their drains, creating even more of an impact.
How can I start stenciling?
- Fill out a stencil supplies request form
Note: we are currently focusing resources on groups of 10 people or more that want to stencil in priority areas, but all are welcome to fill out the form. SPU provides everything you need. - Find storm drains in your area
Check the interactive SPU Storm Drain Stencil Map to find storm drains eligible for stenciling in your neighborhood and learn where water in your area drains. You can also use the map to print out storm drain maps for your event.
- Read over the important documents
When we send you an email confirming that we’ve received your supply request and can fulfill it, we will attach a few documents to ensure your stenciling event goes smoothly:- Waivers and a volunteer sign-in form
- Directions for supply pick-up & drop-off
- Instructions for stenciling best practices & printing drain maps
FAQs
Stenciling is suitable for all ages! While we don’t recommend that kids under eight handle spray paint, there are other roles such as litter grabber and stencil placer that can easily be handled by little ones. Be sure to keep children out of the street – stencils can be done on sidewalks instead.
All of the roles in the stenciling process require the use of arms and hands, so those with upper-body mobility limitations and disabilities affecting the arms and hands may have trouble with this activity. Stencils can be done on sidewalks instead of streets for those that worry about having to quickly move for passing vehicles.
We are prioritizing stenciling in areas with a separated sewer system. Seattle has three kinds of sewer systems – read more about them at ShapeOurWater.org.
Or, you can check out this interactive Storm Drain Stencil Map to see what waterbody your stormwater drains to. If your address falls within one of the colorful areas on the map, you most likely live in an area with a separated sewer system. The map also shows which drains are available to stencil!
We encourage everyone to send in a supply request or notify us of their interest in stenciling. Depending on available supplies, you may still be able to stencil even if your group is less than 10 people.
We make sure to carefully read through the ingredients and only purchase water-based paints that are considered non-toxic. They are the same paints used by construction crews and Seattle Department of Transportation to mark concrete.
By standing on drains so the paint spray goes away from them, and by only stenciling during the dry months where rain won’t immediately wash away the paint, we reduce the risk of paint pollution as much as possible.
Painted stencils last a few years before they are no longer visible. The paint slowly gets eroded by weather and by cars and people going over it. The bright side? This provides more people an opportunity to get involved and stencil. If you see a stencil in desperate need of a touch up, contact us with the location so we can update our map of available drains!
We have a limited supply of stencils in other languages, which can be requested when filling out the supply request form:
- English
- Spanish
- Chinese
- Vietnamese
- Filipino
- Somali
Thank you for helping us keep Puget Sound clean! You can email any pictures of your group’s maps (or action shots) to PreventPollution@Seattle.gov and/or give us the physical copies when you return your supplies.