Community Stormwater Watch
QR code Storm Drain Markers - Community stormwater watch
SOP Technologies’ Patented QR Code Storm Drain Markers allow anyone with a smartphone to scan the code and learn about stormwater efforts in their city, county or state, and also allow the community member to upload a photo and comments relating to the storm drain. This improves community outreach in order to meet NPDES Public Education requirements, and provides Public Works and Stormwater Departments a way to receive notifications of immediate maintenance needs. The same drain markers can be used to log inspections, maintenance and other activities for MS4 reporting purposes.
City of Laurel, Maryland implementing QR Code Storm Drain Markers and Stormwater Filters
City of Laurel, Maryland implementing SOP Technologies patented QR Code Storm Drain Markers and Stormwater Filters citywide.
Storm Drain Markers with QR Codes for Community Feedback
About the program: Stormwater pollution is a major problem around the world, but many communities don’t know how much they are polluting their groundwater or local waterways. The SOP Technologies Community Stormwater Watch allows government agencies, nonprofits and community members to prevent pollution and quantify the types and quantities of pollutants entering local stormwater systems. The data will help to understand the issue of stormwater pollution in your area and guide additional actions to address the problem. Using our patent pending storm drain markers with QR codes is an easy way for Public Works departments to increase public education and engagement.
3 Easy steps
Step 1:
Implement Stormwater Filters to Prevent Pollution
The first step is for your city’s Stormwater or Public Works department to implement stormwater filters at the street drains (curb filters and baskets under grates are ideal). The filters will come with a storm drain marker that has a QR code for scanning and uploading images online.
Step 2: Collect and quantify leaves and litter in front of the filters
Community members scan the QR code and log the types and quantities of pollutants (i.e. leaves, cigarette butts, plastics, etc). Most of the items collected will be organics such as leaves, and this is important to keep track of because leaves contribute to nutrient pollution such as phosphorus and nitrogen.
Step 3: Weigh the pollution and share results
Using a luggage scale, weigh the sack of leaves and trash. This will be included in a report to your local stormwater department and will be used to quantify the amount of nutrient pollution (from the organics) and litter being prevented from entering the storm drains and waterways. The data will help to determine the impacts of implementing more stormwater filters and can improve future educational campaigns for litter prevention.
Analyzing pollution with the nonprofit sendit4thesea
Stormwater filter in action
What is Stormwater Pollution?
“Stormwater runoff is generated from rain and snowmelt events that flow over land or impervious surfaces, such as paved streets, parking lots, and building rooftops, and does not soak into the ground. The runoff picks up pollutants like trash, chemicals, oils, and dirt/sediment that can harm our rivers, streams, lakes, and coastal waters. To protect these resources, communities, construction companies, industries, and others, use stormwater controls, known as best management practices (BMPs). These BMPs filter out pollutants and/or prevent pollution by controlling it at its source.” Source: EPA
HOW DOES PLASTIC POLLUTION MAKE IT TO THE OCEAN?
It is estimated that 80% of the plastic in the ocean is generated on land. This figure shows various ways that plastics make it to the ocean. Source: Eunomia
SOP Technologies Patents and Patents Pending
The word “QR Code” is registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED.