Storm Drain Care
Join a community of volunteers across the city who keep our local storm drains clear to reduce flooding and pollution by:
- keeping leaves, sticks and debris out of the drains in fall. If you have a yard, rake up your leaves before they reach the drain.
- keeping snow and ice from blocking drains in winter. Use a snow shovel, garden shovel, rake, or other strong tool to prevent flooding or ponding.
What is a storm drain?
Storm drains can be identified by their grates and can be found on most paved surfaces. They prevent flooding in our streets by taking stormwater (rain that has hit the ground) and channeling it to underground pipes.
Most of Seattle’s storm drains empty directly to local water bodies like Lake Washington, the Duwamish River, and Puget Sound, meaning that pollutants on the road often travel untreated into the environment.
How to clean up around a storm drain:
- Wear gloves and bright colors
- Use a shovel, rake, or other tools. No hands please!
- Work from the sidewalk or curb
- Practice proper disposal: Normally, raked leaves go in your yard waste or are used as mulch. Grimy leaves from the storm drain go in the garbage due to pollution.
- Avoid hazardous items and please don’t work on major streets or arterials
- Report clogged drains: Use the City of Seattle’s Find It, Fix It app
- Know who to call for urgent help: For emergencies, call 911. For urgent flooding and sewer overflows call SPU’s 24/7 Operations Response Center.