June XX, 2000 Media Release FISHES/SWANS/EELS (delete as appropriate) ON YOUR GRATE MEAN THE DRAIN IS JUST FOR RAIN XYZ residents have thrown their weight behind XYZ Council's the Drain is Just for Rain campaign by volunteering to stencil images of fishes/swans/eels on the grates of their stormwater drains. The drain stencilling, part of the State Government's Drain is Just for Rain campaign, aims to teach people not to put things down the drain as they will pollute the waterways in which they swim, fish and sail. At the same time as the grates are stencilled, residents leaflet houses in the street and put up posters that explain about the problem of stormwater pollution and the Drain is Just for Rain campaign. Some of the things that regularly go down the grates include litter, car washing detergents and dog dirt; all of which end up in the lakes, oceans and creeks in which we swim, fish and sail. XYZ's Mayor, Councillor.........., said, "Drain stencilling is good for residents, good for communities and good for the environment. "By stencilling a grate with a fish/swan/eel, residents are telling people that they must not dump things down there which will pollute the waterways in which we swim, fish or sail. "Because residents, schools and community groups are getting behind the Drain is Just for Rain campaign, the stencilled grates are telling visitors that XYZ values the environment and that we expect people to respect that. "There are heaps of things that we can all do to ensure that only rain goes down the drain. I am sure that if we follow some simple rules both we and the environment will benefit. "If we are washing cars, it's best to wash them over the lawn, use less detergent and empty the bucket down the toilet. "With litter and pet droppings, it's best to pick it up and put it in the bin or toilet." ENDS For media inquiries M.......... @ XYZ Council Tel: (02).......... | 
