When  Zebulon Public Works in North Carolina received their Schwarze A7 sweeper in December, the staffers saw an opportunity to advertise.

The hopper was wrapped with a logo residents might recognize from educational pamphlets the town has passed out at local schools and various community events in an effort to promote proper environmental housekeeping.

Zebulon Public Works Director Chris Ray said the purpose of the logo is to enhance the public’s awareness of the town’s stormwater program.

Both sides of the hopper depict “Mr. Drip,” an illustrated droplet of water whose motto is “Only rain in the drain.”

Stormwater runoff is the water that flows off impervious surfaces or is not fully absorbed by natural surfaces during rain events. This water drains into catch basins, storm sewers and ditches, eventually ending up in lakes and rivers. Stormwater runoff can cause flooding and erosion and can pick up harmful chemicals and debris causing polluted bodies of water and destroying natural habitats.


The new Schwarze sweeper represents an advance in technology that allows the town to do a better job managing runoff and preventing pollution. It replaces a 15-year-old sweeper Ray said was becoming too expensive to maintain and will soon be sold.

“Its basically 15 years worth of better technology. It is hands-down way ahead of the other machine. We were at turtle speed in the other machine. It just can’t do it as fast or effective as this new machine.”