Do you know the purpose of the "big green worms" in Whitpain Township?

Perhaps it will date me, but well, at this age, who cares? When I was a kid, my grandma got this great toy at her house. We simply called him “The Worm.” You could ride on this toy, as it had a built-in saddle and two yellow handles. He wore an adorable hat, had four wheels, and was a young girl’s best friend, at least when it came to hanging out on my grandma’s patio.

    The inchworm ride-on toy, it turns out, was not a figment of my imagination, but an actual memory. Thanks, eBay, for confirming my childhood. (Image courtesy of eBay.com)
  

Thankfully, the internet and eBay have proven, I didn’t hallucinate those fun memories.  It turns out that the “Indoor/Outdoor Classic Bounce and Go Ride-On Inchworm” was very much a thing. (Though, I won’t lie. Finding it listed under Toys from 1970 stung a bit, as I feel they’re attempting to make it more of an antique-like acquisition these days. I’m also certain my gram didn’t pay $125 for enjoyment.)

I, however, have greatly digressed. The reason this fun memory spawned back into my daily thoughts is all thanks to the Whitpain Township’s Environmental Advisory Council. In a recent edition of the Whitpain Wire, the EAC explored these strange green worms you might be seeing in and around the township.

And while they are not countless hours of young child entertainment, they are nothing to be afraid of if you encounter one. Instead, these "big green worms" have been placed around Whitpain storm drains for a very purposeful reason.

According to Greg Klucharich, from the Township’s Engineering group, these are actually commonly used for drains and management of debris.

"It is a typical sediment control device used for construction projects,” said Klucharich. “It has a few names but is a ‘silt sock.’”

These green coil “socks,” which brought back happy memories for me, are actually quite helpful for other reasons.

“It is a biodegradable cloth material on the exterior and full of mulch [inside],” said Klucharich. “This allows for water to filter through the device, but the sediment or mud will mostly get trapped within the mulch or the cloth.”

You will often encounter these socks being put to use in and around construction areas.

“When the construction is done, the cloth is cut open and the mulch is left in an undisturbed area to degrade naturally,” said the consultant to the township’s staff. Overall, however, the same device can also keep heavy leaf clogs, excessive gravel, or silt from causing drain problems. In short, it is much like a filter for a storm drain, allowing water to pass through but not the debris, natural or not, that can back-up drains.

According to the Whitpain EAC, these sediment control devices prevent sand, soil, cement, sediment and nutrients from going into our storm drains, which in turn protects a whole lot more.

“Because everything that goes into a storm drain will ultimately end up in a creek or stream, these devices ultimately protect our water resources and prevent pollution,” said the EAC’s contribution to the Wire.

If you are wondering what you can do to be more like a fun inchworm, or OK, “silt sock,” the EAC has a few tips for you there, too.

“What can Whitpain residents do to protect our water resources? One important action to reduce runoff from our property into storm drains is to rethink our lawn care practices,” said the post.

For example, the EAC suggests that area residents:

• Don’t overwater your lawn - consider using a soaker hose instead of a sprinkler.
• Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly.
• Use organic mulch and safer pest control methods whenever possible.
• Don't leave grass clippings or leaves in the street.
• Do not sweep grass or leaves into storm drains.
• Compost leaves and grass clippings.

And, if you missed our write up about the EAC’s October advice (Psst, it got you out of raking leaves!), there is yet another reason you don’t need to rake piles and piles of leaves this fall.

“Mulch-mowing leaves back into the grass helps strengthen it and the soil, reducing stormwater runoff,” advised the EAC. “Or just leave some leaves on the ground!”

There you have it. Experts advise you not to rake leaves.

For more helpful tips, check out the EAC’s websites on the Whitpain Sustainable Property Program for more information about Stormwater Management, Pollution Reduction, and Stormwater Smart Practices.

If you have questions about big green worms, smart stormwater practices, or any other concerns about the natural world around you, reach out to the Environmental Advisory Council at WhitpainEAC@gmail.com or visit its Website here.