Adopt A Drain Program

 

Water that flows into storm drains is not treated. It flows from the drain into the nearest body of water, eventually making its way to rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. Stormwater that enters these drains collect sediment from our streets and parking lots, which hurts natural plants and wildlife in our waterways.

Join the Adopt A Drain Program

The City of Chesapeake’s Adopt A Drain program allows residents to help keep pollution out of our waterways. Storm drains are located in neighborhoods throughout the City, with many just feet from homes and businesses that need your help to keep clear of litter and debris. Once you identify a drain you’d like to keep clear, contact us at (757) 382-CITY or email jabrown@cityofchesapeake.net and we will formalize the adoption process. Then, simply monitor the drain throughout the year to ensure no trash or debris blocks storm water from flowing into it. 

Why should I Adopt A Drain?

Trash and debris that makes its way into storm drains can contribute to pollution of our local waterways and potentially cause localized flooding in extreme cases of debris build-up and heavy rainfall. Chesapeake Public Works Stormwater regularly inspects the thousands of drains in the City and responds to maintenance needs.

However, it can take some time to get to every drain in the City. That's where you can help. Adopting a storm drain and keeping it clear of debris as part of your regular yard maintenance routine can go a long way toward keeping our waterways pollution‐free. If you notice your adopted drain appears to be clogged or damaged, please contact the City at (757) 382-CITY to have it addressed as soon as possible! 

What's involved?

When you adopt a storm drain, you're pledging to clear debris from around (not inside of) your storm drain at least six times a year. The most important time to clear the area around your storm drain is before a predicted rainfall washes debris down the drain.

All you have to do is:

1. Sweep or rake up leaves, dirt and debris from the area around the drain.
2. Properly sort what you collect into the trash, recycling bin or clear plastic bags for yard waste collection.
3. Report any blockages or maintenance issues with your drain to the City by calling (757) 382-CITY.

I'm in. How do I start?

Adopting a storm drain is easy as 1‐2‐3:

1. Identify the drain(s) you or your organization would like to adopt.
2. Contact us at (757) 382-CITY or email jabrown@cityofchesapeake.net.
3. Complete the provided adoption paperwork and start cleaning!

Stay Safe!

When caring for your adopted drain, please put safety first. Never lift or remove the storm drain covers. Never reach into or enter the storm drains. For interior storm drain maintenance, call (757) 382-CITY, make a service request online by clicking here, or contact us through the Chesapeake Service Request app, which you can download here.