Last week the Jefferson Parish Stormwater Task Force Coalition was awarded the 2017 Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) Award for Pollution Prevention by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.

Recognizing that education and outreach are key components to any successful stormwater program, Jefferson Parish Department of Environmental Affairs undertook a series of activities as part of their community outreach campaign to educate the school children, the general public, homeowners, construction site operators, and lawn maintenance companies about water quality.

As the Jefferson Parish Stormwater Program Managers, DE assisted the Parish with educational workshops targeting General Contractors, both commercial and residential, to increase awareness as to how their activities contribute to pollution entering Lake Pontchartrain and surrounding water bodies. The workshops also focused on opportunities to reduce pollution and lower the impact of these activities.