Kids to carry message to parents: Careful what you pour down drain

Diana Sahagun

Friday, Oct. 22, 1999 | 10:36 a.m.

A new regional campaign reminds residents to think twice before dumping motor oil and paints down the drain.

Those toxic items travel through storm drains to Lake Mead, and inevitably contaminates the source of the Las Vegas Valley's drinking water, a group of elementary school students reminded state and city representatives Thursday.

The children's voices, responding to prompts from the state and area officials, were heard at Theron Goynes Park Thursday. About 70 students from Eva Wolfe and Addeliar Guy elementary schools sang two environmental songs as part of the campaign to bring awareness to the dangers of dumping toxic materials down gutters, household drains and storm drains.

The city of North Las Vegas hosted the regional kickoff for the Lake Mead pollution prevention campaign, "Stormwater Plaque Attack," designed to prevent urban stormwater pollution.

Household hazardous chemicals, yard and pet waste, and motor oils are some common causes of stormwater pollution that flows down storm drains and washes. The materials end up in the valley's drinking water source, Lake Mead.

"KIP," a logo fish, will soon be appearing in many stormwater flow areas across Southern Nevada, delivering the message -- "Don't Pollute! Drains to Lake Mead!" -- on blue and white placards.

KIP is named in memory of Kip Jay Young, a city of Las Vegas employee who died in 1998. Young, an industrial waste inspector for the Department of Public Works, worked to increase environmental awareness in the community. His wife, Jennie Young, his sister Becky Jones, and parents E.J. "Tex," and Dorothy Young were on hand to reveal the plaques.

Shari Buck, a board member for the Southern Nevada Water Authority and member of the North Las Vegas City Council, said a recent four-day bus trip to the upper Colorado River basin showed her the importance of preserving the lake.

"I'm very concerned when it comes to Lake Mead, that the water stays clean and pristine," she said. "People need to realize that everyday things can affect the quality of our drinking water."

Sara Besser, representing Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., said the weight is now placed on the children, to carry the message home to their parents, who might be tempted to dump paint or other substances down drains.

"Sen. Bryan would direct his remarks to these kids here today ... when you take a public education campaign to the public, it's the kids that make it work," she said. She told the children, "You watch what everyone is putting down those drains."