In exploring ways to serve the community in working toward his Eagle Scout rank, Wellesley’s Jeffrey Peng said he got excited upon learning that the Department of Public Works needed help protecting the Charles River.
Completing the project would entail strong leadership and attention to detail, both of which the Wellesley High School senior displayed in heading a team of about two dozen scouts and adult volunteers in stenciling “No Dumping/Drains to River” at more the 200 storm drains across town.
“This project teaches us that water quality starts on our own streets and sidewalks,” Peng says. “Each stencil we label on a storm drain reminds people, ‘No Dumping, Drains To River.’ So as more people learn about the potential repercussions of their actions, they will make smarter choices when choosing how to dispose of their trash.”
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On a beautiful mid-September Saturday, the Troop 185 Assistant Senior Patrol Leader and team worked for more than six hours to mark storm drains in the Fuller Brook Watershed area. Peng demonstrated the stenciling and spray paint process to begin, then sent out three teams to do the job on different routes based on the town’s storm drains map. Scouts, wearing safety vests and carrying cones, each logged about two miles of walking during the project.
Scouts documented drains they marked and Peng reported all this to the town for review.
Any materials on the surfaces of storm drains, such as pesticides and fertilizers, oil or gas from car exhausts, as well as trash, can all be washed into the watershed when it rains. While much of this is unintentional, intentional dumping is also an issue.
Town Senior Civil Engineer Eilish Corey says Wellesley keeps data on dumping, which typically happens a couple of times a year. This can include dog waste bags, paint, and construction materials. Problems are typically reported to the DPW by concerned residents, Corey says.
“Stenciling the drains is a great way of raising awareness. Every reminder helps protect the quality of our water bodies,” she says.
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What a fabulous project!!!!