LONG BEACH : A Grate Way to Educate Residents on Pollution
For Earth Day this year, city officials are asking residents to think about what is thrown into their gutters.
Cigarette butts, motor oil, pesticides, pet droppings--all of it flows into the ocean after being left in gutters, says Barbara Munoz, a city senior civil engineer.
To raise awareness of the link between storm drain refuse and the sea, the city is kicking off a project Saturday--Earth Day--to paint warnings on the city’s 6,000 metal grates, or catch basins. The stenciled warnings read: “No Dumping--This Drains to Ocean.”
The city has allocated $10,000 from the general fund to cover paint supplies and staff time for the project. The effort is in response to a federal mandate requiring local governments to increase public awareness of ocean pollution.
Mayor Beverly O’Neill will help stencil the first catch basins from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Belmont Pool near Termino Avenue and Ocean Boulevard. Seven other weekend painting sessions have also been planned, and another will probably be added to cover the city’s nine councilmanic districts, Munoz said. Volunteers are being sought to help paint grates in each area.
Information: Marcella Castillo, (310) 570-6213.
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