Photo: City of Dayton Department of Water (storm drains). Art: Laura and Michael Huff
The City of Dayton (Ohio) Department of Water wants to make sure citizens understand that stormwater pushes whatever contaminants are in the streets into storm drains and out into local waters.
Rather than building signposts next to storm drains or mailing out informational flyers, the utility, which serves an area alongside the Great Miami River, has taken a more artistic approach: aquatic ecosystem-themed murals on the lids of 9 storm drains. The murals acquaint the public with how storm drains work and beautify the city’s downtown with one-of-a-kind works of art.
Pollution prevention through paint
As part of its 2015 Storm Drain Artscapes mural project, Dayton enlisted the help of 11 local artists to paint aquatic ecosystem-themed murals directly on the lids of 9 storm drains in the city’s most-frequented areas. A mermaid shows off her tail on one storm drain at the corner of 3rd and Wayne Streets, with the caption, “mermaids live here, please keep the water clear”. On another, at Ludlow and 3rd Streets, bright red fish encased in water droplets remind passersby that the drain is for “raindrops only!”. A photo of one […]
Full article: Dayton, Ohio, storm-drain murals remind public to keep contaminants out of waterways
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