Adopt-a-Drain program, aimed at preventing urban flooding, debuts in Puget Sound cities

Some cities across the Puget Sound area are trying a new approach to prevent urban area flooding whenever it rains hard, especially during the fall season.

With a new Adopt-a-Drain program in play, people in some cities can do just that, sign up to take care of a storm drain near you and keep it clean.

Seattle and rain go hand-and-hand during the fall, and so do leaves and drains.

“I’m from Chicago where there’s street cleaning done regularly, and when I first moved here, they were like no, it’s just the rain that does that,” said Nicole Hryckiewicz of Queen Anne in response to drains clogging.

Hryckiewicz admitted that her thoughts are usually centered around walking her dog, the leaves falling and even the rain during the fall but not the drains. She said, “I actually don’t pay attention,” referencing any drain issues.

With that thought, Seattle and six other cities are joining forces to encourage residents to adopt a drain near where they live, clearing leaves off.

“That helps prevent localized flooding and ponding. And also means that debris doesn’t end up in our waterways,” said Sabrina Register, a spokesperson for Seattle Public Utilities.

On Thursday, KIRO 7 saw firsthand leaves covering drains at the intersection of First Avenue West and West Blaine Street in Queen Anne.

A KIRO 7 crew met Register at the intersection and took the time to help remove leaves, clearing a drain.

She said people in Seattle, Tacoma, Redmond, Duvall, New Castle, Maple Valley and Sammamish can sign up to adopt a drain, even giving them names.

There are plenty of names to choose from. There are 30,000 drains in Seattle alone, KIRO 7 found out.

When they are adopted, the city of Seattle keeps track of the cleanup work online.

“It’s just a really good way for participating cities to see how debris has been collected,” Register said.

The Adopt-a-Drain model started five years ago in Minnesota but is brand-new to the Puget Sound region.

Register said there are approximately 150 adopters thus far who have staked a claim to 300 drains.

In everyone’s lives, rain and leaves are sure to fall, and clearing them is a chore. The cities are hoping to get at least 1,000 adopters this year to ensure the task is done.

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