Stormwater Awareness Week
Written by City of Obetz Public Relations Intern, Kinley Neff.
Earlier this month, the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District partnered with the City of Obetz to help protect local waterways. The partnership helped inform people about the importance of keeping our waterways clean and involved delivering spill kits to local businesses throughout the community. On Tuesday, October 7th, several local businesses received spill kits as part of Ohio Stormwater Awareness Week.
For those who may not have known what a spill kit is, it’s like a first-aid kit for hazardous materials. It is a pre-packaged container holding supplies and equipment for rapidly and safely cleaning up liquid spills and leaks—especially hazardous substances—in a workplace or other environment. Each kit included absorbent pads and socks to contain spills, personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep workers safe, and disposal bags for contaminated materials. These tools were used to help businesses quickly and effectively respond to leaks and spills, preventing harmful pollutants from entering storm drains.
We would like to thank Hamilton Local Schools, Gene Salyers GTS LLC, Buckeye Warehouse & Distribution, Mid-America Store Fixtures, Global Retail Partners LLC, Expeditors International, Luxottica Optical 10792, H&M Plumbing, Obetz United Methodist Church, Abundant Life Apostolic, Titan Armored, and Oberson’s for their participation in Stormwater Awareness Week. Thank you to all our local businesses for taking the first steps toward improving the water quality in our city.
Stormwater Awareness Week, held October 1–7, served as an important reminder that everyday actions affect our city’s water quality. Rainwater that runs off parking lots, streets, and rooftops can carry oil, litter, and other pollutants directly into storm drains, which flow right into our local waterways. It is essential to have clean water, and we take pride in maintaining and protecting our storm drains. The Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District, along with the City of Obetz, took steps to reduce pollution at the source and protect the health of our rivers and streams.
As Stormwater Awareness Week came to an end on October 7th, residents and businesses alike were encouraged to do their part to keep all waterways clean. Small actions—like cleaning up spills, disposing of waste properly, and never dumping in storm drains—made a big difference in our community and environment.