Some Hernando County kids are doing their part to protect the environment.
The students hit the streets of Brooksville with cans of spray paint. Their goal is to send a very clear message to their community.
"You should never pollute the waters," Douglas Jones, 9, said. "Never pollute anything."
The students have teamed up with Hernando's Public Works Department to spread the word about keeping our water clean.
Armed with cans of spray paint and stencils, the youngsters marked stormwater drains up and down Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Brooksville. Their message reads: "Don't Dump Here, Drains to Lake."
"The more you pollute the more sickness people can get from the water," Douglas said.
The stormwater stencils are part of an effort to educate residents and reduce the amount of trash, chemicals and oil going down the drains. The trash and chemicals ends up in lakes, rivers and groundwater supply, and the problem is exacerbated with all the rain we're getting.
Jhayda Blake, 14, is a big believer when it comes to protecting the environment. She hopes the painted messages work as intended.
"It's helping our world and our community by putting those signs up," she said.
Public works officials say this is part of a national campaign to protect waterways. If you know some kids that want to get involved, call 352-754-4062.