October 2, 2007

STORM WATER WINS NATIONAL AWARD

Charlotte, North Carolina – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services (CMSWS) has received a national award for its water quality education and public involvement campaigns.

At its annual convention October 2, 2007 in Newport, Rhode Island, the National Association of Flood & Stormwater Management Agencies (NAFSMA) announced that its first place water quality award for excellence in communications was awarded to CMSWS.

CMSWS' public involvement campaign encourages citizens to be proactive in protecting water quality.  The award recognizes Storm Water Services' multi-prong approach to public involvement through the Adopt-A-Stream, Storm Drain Marking and Big Sweep programs. 

In fiscal year 2007, CMSWS' successful public involvement programs have resulted in:

• 1,106 volunteers gave 2,525 hours of time to pick-up approximately 22,000 pounds trash and report pollution in local creeks through the Adopt-A-Stream program,
• 454 volunteers participating in Big Sweep, a one-day event that cleaned approximately 13,500 pounds of trash from 69 miles of lake and stream shoreline, and
• 200 hours spent marking 1,640 storm drains with the message, "Do Not Dump – Drains to Creek."

Public surveys indicate the campaigns are paying off.  Awareness of storm water issues in Charlotte-Mecklenburg is at an all-time high of 65%, up more than 20% in the past five years. Additionally, 70% of the population stated during the survey that they would pay more in storm water fees to clean up creeks.

In 2006, CMSWS was the recipient of the President's Award for Excellence in Communication (recognizing water quality and flooding communication) from NAFSMA.  

For additional information contact:    

Jennifer Krupowicz, Water Quality Educator 
Charlotte Storm Water Services
704-432-0970
704-507-6565 (Cell)

Erin Oliverio, Water Quality Educator 
Mecklenburg County Storm Water Services
704-336-5595