Stormwater is the rain and melted snow flowing from our properties onto our streets, into the City's stormwater drainage system and ultimately into the environment. Stormwater picks up pollution as it runs across the ground, such as pet waste, fertilizer, pesticides, oil/automotive fluids, and litter. Many residents, businesses and visitors in Brampton are not aware that pollution from older neighbourhoods flows directly into the environment, including Lake Ontario (our source of drinking water). The connection from our streets to the environment is invisible to the general public because the stormwater drainage system is mostly underground and out of sight.
"From Streets to Streams" - Catchbasin Art Project seeks to raise awareness of this underground stormwater system by drawing attention to its starting point - catchbasins - through art murals. Local Brampton artists are painting murals around catchbasins to raise awareness of the drainage connection from our streets to the environment and inspire pollution prevention to protect local waterways.
In 2024, the project returned for its second year, working with six artists painting 12 unique catchbasins in parks and residential neighbourhoods. Check out the murals below!