Storm Drain Care
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) invites you to join a community of volunteers across the city who keep our local storm drains clear to reduce flooding and pollution, and ensure that only rain goes down the drain.
- In fall, keep leaves, sticks and debris out of the drains. Rake them in your yard before they reach the drain.
- In winter, keep snow and ice from blocking drains. Remove snow and ice from your local storm drain with 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.