U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Menu of Best Management Practices
Public Education and Outreach on Storm Water Impacts
Regulatory Text
You must implement a public education program to distribute educational materials to the community or conduct equivalent outreach activities about the impacts of storm water discharges on water bodies and the steps that the public can take to reduce pollutants in storm water runoff.
Guidance
You may use storm water educational materials provided by your state; tribe; EPA; environmental, public interest, or trade organizations; or other MS4s. The public education program should inform individuals and households about the steps they can take to reduce storm water pollution, such as ensuring proper septic system maintenance, ensuring the proper use and disposal of landscape and garden chemicals including fertilizers and pesticides, protecting and restoring riparian vegetation, and properly disposing of used motor oil and household hazardous wastes. EPA recommends that the program inform individuals and groups how to become involved in local stream and beach restoration activities, as well as activities that are coordinated by youth service and conservation corps or other citizen groups. EPA recommends that the public education program be tailored, using a mix of locally appropriate strategies, to target specific audiences and communities. Examples of strategies include distributing brochures or fact sheets, sponsoring speaking engagements before community groups, providing public service announcements, implementing educational programs targeted at school age children, and conducting community-based projects such as storm drain stenciling and watershed and beach cleanups. In addition, EPA recommends that some of the materials or outreach programs be directed toward targeted groups of commercial, industrial, and institutional entities likely to have significant storm water impacts. For example, providing information to restaurants on the impact of grease clogging storm drains, and to garages on the impact of oil discharges. You are encouraged to tailor your outreach program to address the viewpoints and concerns of all communities, particularly minority and disadvantaged communities, as well as any special concerns relating to children.
BMP Fact Sheets
(The following materials are available on the EPA web site at: www.epa.gov/npdes/menuofmps/pub_ed.htm.)
Public outreach/education for homeowners
Water conservation practices for homeowners
Proper disposal of household hazardous wastes
Targeting public outreach/education
Education/outreach for commercial activities
Tailoring outreach programs to minority and disadvantaged communities and children
Classroom education on storm water
Storm water educational materials
Public outreach programs for new development
Pollution prevention programs for existing development
Educational displays, pamphlets, booklets, and utility stuffers