Only Rain Down the Storm Drain

Stormwater runoff is a major source of water pollution. That is why Cleveland Water Pollution Control created a public education campaign called Only Rain Down the Storm Drain. The campaign helps educate Cleveland residents and business owners as well as others about best practices to lessen the impact stormwater runoff on the environment, particularly local waterways, such as the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie.

Rainwater or snowmelt is stormwater. Runoff happens when rain and snow melt are not soaked into the ground, but flow over hard/impervious pavements. The runoff washes contaminants that are on the ground into storm drains that may flow directly into local streams, creeks, the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie. It is especially important that we protect Lake Erie, which is Northeast Ohio’s main source of drinking water. Contaminants, such as motor oil, fertilizers, pesticides and animal waste can be washed into storm drains and catch basins by stormwater and even water from yard sprinklers.