Forsyth Students Launch Fifth Annual Storm Drain Art Contest to Protect Water

Keep Forsyth County Beautiful and the Forsyth County Department of Water & Sewer opened the Fifth Annual Storm Drain Art Contest on Monday, Jan. 5, asking middle and high school students to submit original art that promotes water quality under the theme "Only Rain Goes Down the Drain." The program pairs environmental education with visible public messaging, and winners will receive recognition and may have their artwork painted on storm drains across Forsyth County.

The contest builds on years of local efforts to reduce stormwater pollution by changing everyday behaviors that affect creeks, streams, and water treatment systems. Placing youth-created imagery on storm drains turns otherwise overlooked infrastructure into a community reminder that harmful materials such as motor oil, pet waste, and trash should not be dumped where runoff travels into waterways. For Forsyth County residents, the campaign aims to reduce pollution that can harm recreation, wildlife, and the quality of water that local treatment systems must manage.

Beyond aesthetics, storm drain art contests are a public health intervention wrapped in civic engagement. Educational outreach to students encourages household and community practices that lower pollutant loads, alleviating burdens on wastewater and stormwater treatment and reducing potential health risks linked to contaminated runoff. The contest also offers a platform for young people to shape neighborhood messages and for local government partners to center prevention rather than costly remediation.

There are equity implications embedded in the program. Visual campaigns placed in neighborhoods with less access to green infrastructure or public messaging can increase awareness where it matters most. Engaging middle and high school students from diverse schools gives communities an opportunity to raise locally relevant concerns, celebrate youth voices, and help direct attention to areas that historically have borne disproportionate environmental burdens.

The initiative reflects a broader municipal approach that combines education, community partnerships, and infrastructure planning to protect water quality. County leaders say showcasing student artwork on storm drains is one of several outreach strategies that complement technical measures such as improved drainage design and street sweeping.

For residents, the contest is both a reminder and an invitation: local waterways are a shared resource, and small daily choices affect public health and neighborhood quality of life. As the contest proceeds this year, community members can expect to see youth artwork appear in public spaces, turning storm drains into tools for environmental stewardship and civic pride.