Billboards to remind residents to prevent pollution of water

The clean-water campaign also includes posters.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning Valley residents will soon be seeing billboards reminding them of the need to protect lakes and streams from being polluted by waste oil.

The first billboard in the Clean Water Campaign is to be installed by Monday in the 6000 block of Mahoning Avenue in Austintown near Meander Reservoir, the source of drinking water for Youngstown, Niles and other local communities.

The billboard, sponsored by the Mahoning Soil and Water Conservation District, shows a car leaking oil being driven through the shallow waters of a lake. Across its top, it says: “Your car is not just leaking oil on the street,” and mentions the Web site: www.mahoningswcd.org.

The 10-foot-by 22-foot billboard will remain at the Austintown location for at least two weeks. It will then be displayed for at least two weeks at each of three other high-traffic Mahoning County billboard locations.

The state-funded billboard campaign, being handled by Lamar Outdoor Advertising, is accompanied by a poster campaign designed to educate residents and landowners about the importance of proper control of water pollutants, such as pet waste, fertilizers, oil and detergent phosphates.

The billboard and poster campaign is designed “to make residents and landowners aware that what they do on their property can ultimately affect the quality of water,” said Kathleen Vrable-Bryan, district administrator.

The Backyard Conservation Poster Campaign, which is funded by a grant from the Mahoning County Recycling Division, offers educational posters free of charge to area businesses and organizations, which are encouraged to display them prominently, Vrable-Bryan said.

The public needs to be educated about the importance of keeping pollutants out of storm sewers, in which water flows untreated into local streams, rivers and lakes, Vrable-Bryan said.

Prevention of water pollution is much cheaper than cleanup of fouled waterways, she added.

Funded by federal, state and county monies, SWCD enforces erosion and sediment control regulations and educates local residents and landowners about best practices for preventing soil erosion, flooding and water pollution.