Storm drains are infrastructure designed to drain excess rainfall runoff from streets and other impervious surfaces. Located in curbs and low-lying areas, storm drains carry runoff in ditches and underground pipes directly to local streams, rivers, and lakes. Because the water is untreated, any pollutant entering a storm drain is discharged directly into the environment. Pollutants, such as litter, oils, paints, and pesticides can end up in storm drains when people dispose of them improperly. The University has over 2,000 storm drains on its main campus. These drain to the Town Branch, Wolf Run, and West Hickman watersheds.
Storm drain marking is an educational program designed to inform the campus population about the problems caused by dumping pollutants into storm drains. It involves labeling a storm drain inlet with a plaque or medallion warning individuals not to dump pollutants into the drain.
By installing storm drain markers, you can take an active role in helping the University prevent stormwater pollution.
As part of your training before going out to the field, use these detailed instructions to familiarize yourself with correctly identifying a storm drain in the zone which you are conducting assessments. There are many types of grate covering on campus which look like storm drains, but in fact may actually be steam vents or other access points unconnected to the storm sewer system. Only storm drains should be assessed and marked using these medallions.
To mark a drain, you will need to use the included supplies to clean the curbing of any dirt/debris, apply adhesive to the back of the medallion, press firmly to adhere to the curb, and clear away any excess adhesive. This video explains the process:
Detailed instructions are also included with each kit. The optimum location to mark a drain is on the curb, located behind the drain as this prevents snow plowing/clearing activities from removing the marker.
The following supplies are provided to you by the Stormwater Outreach team for your planned event. Consider the weather the day of the event in order to be comfortable while working outdoors including clothing, sun screen, shoes/boots, water, & snacks. Also ensure your device's battery is fully charged before going out on the survey.
Please note that parking on UK campus may be limited to those who have acquired permits through UK Transportation Services. Feel free to reach out to us to discuss available options for parking the day of the marking event.
As part of your training, it is important to learn how to navigate within your designated zone using the GIS survey map to correctly locate the storm drain on the ground. There are many grates on campus which look like storm drains but in fact are utility vents that are not a part of the storm sewer system.
Follow along with the How to Identify a Storm Drain video tutorial as our Stormwater Outreach team presents information on how to accurately identify a storm drain, the correct placement of the medallion when one is required to be marked, as well as examples of the variety of storm drains you may observe throughout campus.
The following slides of the video are available to assist in your training or while out on campus during the marking event.
Have an interest in marking storm drains or represent a class or group that wants to get involved? Simply use this map to view the storm drains on campus that need to be marked, select the area of campus where you would like to volunteer, and determine the number of drains you are interested in marking. With this information in mind, fill out our web based Storm Drain Marking Program Application Form.
Once the application is received you will be contacted by a member of Environmental Quality Management regarding marking materials, instructions/training, and to answer any questions you may have. If you are a faculty member with a class or a group of individuals that would like to participate in the drain marking program, classroom instruction/in-person training is available. Please let us know if you are interested in the comments section of the application form.
Please remember when scheduling your event/activity that temperatures need to be between 40° - 90° F for the adhesive to set properly and it must be dry for the adhesive to stick. It is highly encouraged that you set a rain date should the weather not be appropriate on your chosen marking day. All remaining materials will need to be returned upon completion of your drain marking activity.
As part of the Drain Marking Program we ask that you complete a Storm Drain Assessment Survey during your drain marking activities. This allows the University to get an accurate inventory of all marked storm drains and assess the condition of each drain at the time of marking. Using your smartphone or WiFi enabled device you will select the storm drain to be marked from our Storm Drain Marking Map, open the inspection form, and complete the fields.
Access to the Storm Drain Marking Map as well as the Drain Assessment Survey is discussed in detail in these instructions. Follow along to the Assessment Survey video tutorial where our Stormwater Outreach team demonstrates how to correctly enter the storm drain information using the GIS survey software.
Assessment Survey Video Tutorial
You may encounter an illicit discharge – something other than rainwater going down a storm drain – while you are participating in the drain marking program. If you do, please report it using the storm drain field map or our illicit discharge report form.
Likewise, if you see work practices on campus that have the potential to impact stormwater and protective measures don’t seem to be in place, let us know. Future reports can be made by selecting the Report an Illicit Discharge button on any of the Water Quality pages. Visit our Illicit Discharge section to learn more about what an illicit discharge is and how to identify the most common ones on campus.
Illicit Discharges Page
UK's storm sewer system consists of more than 17 miles of pipe, 5 miles of open channel, and over 2,000 storm drains that discharges untreated stormwater runoff into Town Branch, Wolf Creek, and West Hickman watersheds. It is imperative to prevent pollutants from entering the environment because of the impact to our local stream's water quality for drinking water, recreation, and aquatic life.