On Sunday, community members will have the opportunity to paint the streets of downtown Bath for a good cause as the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust will be hosting its third annual Storm Drain Stenciling Blitz from 1-4 p.m.

Teams of two to five members can register for the event to spray paint messages that read “Keep it Clean, Drains to River” throughout the storm drains in downtown Bath.

Becky Kolak, KELT’s education coordinator, and Ruth Indrick, KELT’s project manager, came up with the activity together and organized this fun community event to encourage the public and summer visitors to think about how storm drains are connected to the river, and how everyday actions can influence the natural world, right here in Bath.

According to Kolak, when there is rain or melting snow, pollutants like litter, antifreeze, cigarette butts or anything left on the streets can be easily picked up and carried down a storm drain, which may end up in the Kennebec River or one of its tributaries.

Community members both young and old — families, Scout troops and service clubs — are encouraged to come out and spray paint the streets on Sunday to help bring this issue to the attention of the public. Equipment and training will be provided at Bath’s Waterfront Park before participants go out and begin stenciling.

Kolak said this event has received positive responses and participation from the community in the past and hoped there would be a good turnout this weekend.

“My biggest hope is for it to not only be a fun event and get people involved and caring for our community, but to also have these serve as reminders to care for our surroundings — our land and water,” she said.

Kolak added that this event is also a good learning opportunity for kids in the community: “it’s a nice event that opens up the doors to land and water stewardship in a really fun way.”

Team registration packets and additional information about the event can be found at www.kennebecestuary.org/storm-drain-stenciling.

dkim@timesrecord.com