What is the Storm Water Stenciling Program?

It's a program in which civic organizations such as schools, boy scout troups, and youth groups come together to place stencil markers on the City inlets that drain directly into the bay. The main purpose of placing stencils on the inlets is to reduce pollution.

The Storm Water Inlet Stenciling Program was developed in 1992 and is funded by the City of Corpus Christi Storm Water Department and sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Port Authority of Corpus Christi. Through the assistance of volunteers, messages are placed on storm water drainage inlets to prevent illegal discharges of pollutants into the City's storm water drainage system.  The message, "No Dumping - Drains to Bays" (in English and Spanish) is important for several reasons.

Storm Water drainage lines are located throughout the city. Storm water drainage inlets are openings in the street curbs that allow rainwater runoff to enter. They carry rain water off urban streets, parking lots, construction sites, neighborhoods and agricultural lands, and channel it into our city's storm water drainage system and into drainage ditches. Nonpoint source pollution (NPS) is washed by rainfall off the land and into our creeks, bays, lakes, and oceans.

Examples of NPS Pollution

Storm Water Drainage Inlets

There are over 18,300 storm water drainage inlets in our community.  City crews cannot inspect all of them in one year.  Often, such things as trash, grass clippings, plastic bags, and hazardous wastes are dumped carelessly into storm water drainage inlets.  This causes not only pollution but may result in clogging storm water drainage lines and could eventually lead to street flooding.

Prevention is the Best Medicine

Individuals and groups can volunteer to be part of the solution to pollution.  City representatives are available to make presentations on or before scheduled events to explain the inlet stenciling program, which involves inspecting inlets and placing stencils. 

When a group is working in a neighborhood, they will leave door hangers advising residents of the prevention of pollution in their neighborhood. 

Our community volunteers have a great time and make a big difference.  Because Corpus Christi is a beautiful city,  we want to encourage everyone to do their part and "Keep it Clean."