The City of Washington, Indiana

Outreach and Education

As an MS4 community, the City of Washington is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive Storm Water Quality Management Plan (SWQMP) as specified in 327 IAC 15-13. The Storm Water Department was created to carry out this plan as mandated by law. The SWQMP is required to specifically address six minimum control measures, one of which is Public Education and Outreach. The Storm Water Department has been instrumental in promoting storm water education to the whole community:

• Expanded recycling opportunities
• Opened the Household Hazardous Waste Facility
• Participates in the DEA's Drug Take-Back Day twice a year
• Installed a locked disposal box at the police department for unwanted medications
• Participates in the annual Indiana Pesticide Clean Sweep Project
• Earned the Clean Community Designation from the State of Indiana
• Aired public service announcements on the radio
• Published printed educational materials
• Hosts an annual community-wide Earth Day Event
• Implemented a successful anti-littering campaign called Team Up to Clean Up Washington

Also, since 2004, the City of Washington and the Daviess County Soil & Water Conservation District have worked together to provide information to citizens about storm water issues affecting our community. This successful partnership has conducted educational programs for area students, published newspaper articles, hosted informative workshops and community events, offered rain barrels for sale, and completed an educational rain garden at Eastside Park.