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.