Chapter 3 - Public Education and Outreach MCM

3.0    Introduction

This chapter describes the public education and outreach minimum control measure, one of six measures an operator of a Phase II-regulated small municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) is required to include in its stormwater management program to meet the conditions of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit.

According to the EPA, an informed and knowledgeable community is crucial to the success of a stormwater management program.  Educating the public helps to ensure greater support by the public and greater compliance with the program itself.

Each education and outreach activity is accompanied by its own implementation schedule.  The implementation schedule informs the MS4 Operator and his or her designated personnel of the tasks to complete for each year.  The MS4 Operator will ask that the parties responsible for each education activity record and report annually on the items to be tracked so that the MS4 Operator may include them in the annual report to IDEM.

Measurable Goal: The public education and outreach program that follows aims to increase the number of persons residing within the corporate limits of Logansport that are educated about stormwater quality by 5%.  The goal is to achieve the 5% increase by the end of the 5-year permit term.

3.1    Initial Assessment of Constituents

During the early stages of Logansport's Stormwater Quality Management Plan a Water Quality Survey (which covered both the constituents’ awareness of water quality issues as well as to inquire about their level of participation in stormwater quality issues) was created and distributed to the City's constituents to comply with 327 IAC 15-13-12 Sec. 12 (c).  In order to include every demographic in the City, this survey was mailed to every utility customer.  A copy of the survey is included in Appendix E.

Half of the Water Quality Survey was distributed by mail on June 23^rd and the other half on July 9^th.  The residents of the City of Logansport were instructed to include their completed survey with their next utility payment.  Logansport utilities then forwarded the completed surveys to Bonar Group to be analyzed.

Of the 7,470 surveys that were sent out, 574 surveys were returned resulting in an 8% overall response rate. Eighty-nine percent of the respondents identified themselves as residents of the community.  While the majority of the surveys were filled out completely, a number of respondents skipped individual questions.  This was taken into account in the final percentages used to assess the public's knowledge about water quality issues. Each question was analyzed independently of the total number of surveys returned.  The number of respondents that left a question unanswered was subtracted from the total number of respondents (574) in order to determine the percentage of recipients that did answer the respective question.

When asked whether or not the Wabash and Eel Rivers are valuable resources, the majority of respondents (93%) agreed that they were, 2% disagreed, and 5% had no opinion. The following education and outreach program will need to, at a minimum, support the fact that the Wabash and Eel Rivers are valuable resources to the City of Logansport.

When asked if they knew the name of the stream, river, or ditch closest to their place of residence, the majority of respondents (85%) indicated that they did.  Fifteen percent indicated that they did not. The following education and outreach program will need to, at a minimum, aid the citizens in the identification of the City's receiving streams and conveyance system.

When asked whether or not stormwater is treated before it enters City's conveyance system, 31% of Logansport's constituents that returned the survey believe that it is, 34% were unsure, and 35% believe that stormwater is not treated before it enters the community's conveyance system.  The following education and outreach program will need to, at a minimum, educate the public on the differences between storm sewers and sanitary sewers.

When asked whether or not improper fertilization, improperly changing one's oil, and the improper disposal of household hazardous waste, can negatively impact stormwater quality, the majority (75%, 77% and 94% respectively) of Logansport's constituents that responded to the survey agreed that these activities could negatively impact stormwater quality. A smaller majority agreed that improperly disposing of pet waste (53%) could negatively impact stormwater quality. Conversely, a majority of the respondents (57%) were unaware that improperly washing one's vehicle can negatively impact the community's stormwater quality as well.  The following education and outreach program will need to, at a minimum, educate the public on the proper disposal of pet waste as well as proper car care and maintenance.

When asked to identify the primary source of stormwater pollution, the majority of respondents (75%) that responded to the survey chose point source pollution, while only a small percentage (25%) correctly identified non-point source pollution.  The following education and outreach program will need to, at a minimum, educate the public on non-point source pollution; its origin, why it is harmful to stormwater quality, and how to prevent it.

When asked to identify the City of Logansport's primary source of drinking water, the majority of respondents (57%) correctly identified surface water.  Twenty percent of respondents believe that the majority of their drinking water is obtained from groundwater, while 23% believed that it comes from some other source.  The following education and outreach program will need to, at a minimum, educate the public on the relationships between stormwater quality and its effects on surface water bodies.

Logansport's constituents will be re-evaluated on their knowledge of stormwater quality issues at the end of the 5-year permit term.  This information should be used to assess, and if necessary, make changes to the public education and outreach program submitted for the next permit term.

3.2    Public Education Program

The following activities encompass the public education and outreach program for the constituents of the City of Logansport, who are otherwise referred to as the citizens of Logansport. 

3.2.1    Stormwater Website

Much of the information placed on the Stormwater Website will be generated from existing sources pertaining to stormwater and water quality in general.  Additional materials specific to local needs will be generated as necessary.

3.2.1.1       Implementation Schedule

The implementation of a stormwater website shall be the responsibility of the MS4 Operator whom will pursue the following schedule:

Year 1 (ending Nov 2004): Approve the public education activity described above.

Year 2 (ending Nov 2005): Aided by LMU's administrative office research the development of a stormwater webpage to link to the City of Logansport's webpage.

Year 3 (ending Nov 2006): Research stormwater material and coordinate the design, creation, and maintenance of the stormwater webpage.  Update the contents of the webpage regularly throughout the year.  Update the website while adding at least one additional feature.

Year 4 (ending Nov 2007): Update the website while adding at least one additional feature.

Year 5 (ending Nov 2008): Update the website while adding at least one additional feature.

3.2.1.2       Items to be Tracked

The following items will be recorded on the corresponding reporting form located at the end of this chapter. 

• Number of visitors; and

• Number of inquiries

         3.2.2    Activity Book

Activity Books are typically produced with a target audience ranging from 2^nd to 4^th grade.  The target audience for stormwater Activity Books will be 2^nd graders within the City of Logansport.

The Stormwater Management Board, on behalf of the City of Logansport, is committed to using the most appropriate and feasible version of the Activity Book each year.

3.2.2.1       Implementation Schedule

The implementation of Activity Books shall be the responsibility of the MS4 Operator whom will pursue the following schedule:

Year 1(ending Nov 2004): Approve the public education activity described above.

Year 2 (ending Nov 2005): Research estimated enrollments for the 2006/2007 school year.

Year 3 (ending Nov 2006): Purchase and distribute the most appropriate and feasible version of the Allen County Activity Book to each 2^nd grader within the.

Year 4 (ending Nov 2007): Consider identifying an art class in the Logansport School District to design an Activity Book for Logansport and begin production if feasible.  In the meantime, purchase and distribute the most appropriate and feasible version of the Allen County Activity Book to each 2^nd grader within the City of Logansport.

Year 5 (ending Nov 2008): Produce and distribute the most appropriate and feasible version of the Logansport Activity Book to each 2^nd  grader within the City of Logansport or purchase and distribute the most appropriate and feasible version of the Allen County Activity Book to each 2^nd grader within the City of Logansport as was done in previous years.

3.2.2.2       Items to be Tracked

The following items will be recorded on the corresponding reporting form located at the end of this chapter. 

• Number of 2^nd graders enrolled in the Logansport School District; and

• Number of Activity Books distributed.

         3.2.3    Stormwater Presentations

The MS4 Operator shall make an annual presentation to the Stormwater Board outlining the elements of the City's annual report to IDEM regarding the Stormwater Quality Management Plan.

3.2.3.1       Implementation Schedule

The implementation of stormwater presentations shall be the responsibility of the MS4 Operator whom will pursue the following schedule:

Year 1(ending Nov 2004): Approve the public education activity described above.

Year 2 (ending Nov 2005): Prepare presentation material and speak on behalf of the Stormwater Board meeting at the end of the permit year.

Year 3 (ending Nov 2006): Prepare presentation material and speak on behalf of the Stormwater Board meeting at the end of the permit year.

Year 4 (ending Nov 2007): Prepare presentation material and speak on behalf of the Stormwater Board meeting at the end of the permit year.

Year 5 (ending Nov 2008): Prepare presentation material and speak on behalf of the Stormwater Board meeting at the end of the permit year.

3.2.3.2       Items to be Tracked

The following items will be recorded on the corresponding reporting form located at the end of this chapter.    

• Date of the presentation; and

• Attendance at each presentation.

3.3    Consistency with the Long-Term Control Plan (LTCP)

The Logansport Municipal Utility Long-Term Control Plan was reviewed for its public education component to ensure that the public education efforts of this Stormwater Management Plan were neither in conflict with, nor duplicating the efforts of the LTCP.

The LTCP was not required to address public education with respect to stormwater quality (refer to Chapter 4 as the LTCP does address public participation with respect to stormwater quality).  Therefore, the efforts of this SWQMP, which aim to educate the public on stormwater quality issues as a result of impervious surfaces and non-point source pollution are not in conflict with or a duplication of the LTCP.

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