What is Storm Drain Art?
The City of Dayton’s Storm Drain Artscapes project highlights
the importance of local storm drains while reminding citizens that
whatever goes down the
drain goes directly to the river. The unique, beautiful public
art will also add to the vibrancy of downtown streetscapes.
This exciting project gives Dayton artists the opportunity to
express themselves with semi-permanent public art. Artists will create
small-scale,
outdoor storm drain murals to communicate the function and
importance of local storm drains and their connection to the rivers.
Why Storm Drains?
Storm drains are essential units of city infrastructure that can
impact the health of the region’s rivers. Like many cities, Dayton’s
municipal
separate storm sewer system drains directly from city streets,
parking lots and lawns to the river. As it moves to and through the
storm drain
system, stormwater can pick up anything in its path such as
grease, oil, sediments, anti-freeze, fertilizer and pet waste. This
water then travels
through storm drains, untreated, to our local rivers and
streams—NOT the wastewater treatment plant. That means when pollutants
such as soapy water,
oil, paint and trash are disposed of via storm drains, they end
up directly in our waterways.