Water: Middle School




Exercise I. Adopt-A-Street Program in Your 'Hood'
First, A Few Good Examples
Everything that is washed down street gutters affects the health of the waterways around you. Storm drain stenciling is a good way to remind people not to throw used oil, trash, and other objects down the gutters. Adopt-A-Street is a similar program.
Many cities have Adopt-A-Street programs. Adopt-A-Street is a partnership between a city and its residents. Groups or individuals agree to adopt a mile or more of city streets and keep them clean. The city provides organizational help, cleanup supplies, free hauling, and street signs that identify the Adopt-A-Street sponsors. Little Rock, Arkansas; Greensboro, North Carolina; and Westminster, Colorado are three good examples of cities that have successfully started Adopt-A-Street programs. You can see what these cities are doing by visiting the following Web sites:
Before You Get Started...
Visit EPA's Web site on combined sewer overflows
What is a CSO (combined sewer overflow)?
What is a wet weather discharge?
Why is it important not to throw trash and pollutants into a storm drain?
Little Rock, Arkansas: Adopt-A-Street Program
Greensboro, North Carolina: Adopt-A-Street Program
Westminster, Colorado: Adopt-A-Street Program [Broken]
Now, Create Your Own
Activity 1:
Are you part of an Adopt-A-Street program? Investigate whether your city will provide support for an Adopt-A-Street program by calling the Department of Public Works.
Activity 2:
As a class, you can set up an Adopt-A-Street group for the stretch of road outside your school. You can also start an Adopt-A-Street program for your neighborhood or housing development.