Waukesha County

Adopt A Drain Program

Do you have 15 minutes twice a month to help protect our lakes and rivers? Consider adopting a storm drain! 

Adopters are asked to clean the surface of their storm drain twice a month and report the quantity and composition of debris removed.

Click the map below to
Adopt a Drain
or Record a Cleaning

 

Get started: 

Select a drain 
You pick your desired drain(s)! Adopters receive:

  • a storm drain marker
  • safety vest
  • and quarterly email reminders and news
  • Clean around your storm drain twice a month - safety first, so watch this short video and view the Adopter's Guide
  • report your work - click on the map and select "reporting cleaning activity. You have made a difference for our lakes and rivers!

Contact Us✉  Why Adopt A Drain? 

Adopter's Guide
Twice a month, clean around your storm drain.
Safety first! Here's how:

• Gather your supplies

• safety vest
• broom and a dustpan
• gloves
• bucket or bag to put removed material in

• Think "safety first"
Wear the safety vest provided. If possible, have a second person join you. The person wearing the vest should remain standing and watch traffic.The other person performs the cleaning. 

• Never remove the grate
Clean only the surface and around the grate. Never attempt to remove the grate or reach inside. (If the drain seems plugged, contact the city, town, or village’s public works department.)

• Busy streets 
It is best to adopt drains on local residential streets. Avoid busy streets.

• "Only rain down the drain"
Clear the curb area and the sidewalk around the storm drain. This helps to keep pollutants from washing into the drain during rain events.

• Weigh your collected material for reporting
If you don’t have a scale, feel free to estimate the weight.

• Separate and dispose of material collected: 

• Recyclable materials in a recycle bin 
• Compost leaves, grass, and sticks 
• Everything else in the trash

• Report your work
Click on the map and select “reporting cleaning activity.” Fill in the date of your collection, then the weight and type of materials collected. 

• Well done! 
You have made a difference for your community!


News: Adopt-A-Drain Dispatch

Winter 2023-24 newsletter

With any technical questions, contact Jayne: 262-896-8300 • email


Business Hours: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Monday - Friday (excluding holidays)
515 W. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha, WI 53188
Room AC 260 - (262) 896-8300
Staff Contacts

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