Adopt-A-Drain

Oakland Adopt-A-Drain program needs volunteers to keep storm drains clear of leaves and trash! Clear storm drains help protect water quality and reduce flooding during storms. Be #OaktownPROUD and Adopt a Drain today!

Apply Now

Adopt-A-Drain Application

How to Adopt-A-Drain

1. Find a drain: Use the Adopt-A-Drain Map in the application to choose an available drain 
   • All Storm Drains are pink with blue dots 
        
   • Adopted Drains are covered by light blue dots
        
2. Apply: Submit the Adopt-A-Drain Application; you'll get a confirmation email after submission 
3. Clean your Drain!: Remove leaves and trash from the drain and about 10 feet around it, especially before or after heavy rains.
   • Need tools? Fill out the Environmental Stewardship Tool Request form

It's Easy! 

• Sign up, pick a drain you want to care for
• Clean your drain once a month, especially before and after storms
• Report your clean-up activity 
• Need tools? We'll provide bags and loan gloves, trash pickers, and more. 

Reports

Priority Storm Drains

Find a priority drain to adopt by viewing our Priority Drain map below. Find the address of the drain you would like to adopt by clicking on the drain's dot. Search for that address in the Adopt-A-Drain application to adopt the drain in need.

Priority Drains

Resources

About the Program

Hundreds of volunteers across Oakland have adopted storm drains to help their neighborhoods prepare for rainstorms. It doesn't take much to keep a storm drain clear. A little volunteer effort goes a long way in helping Public Works maintain over 13,000 storm drains to reduce flooding and prevent pollution of our waterways. When you sign up to Adopt-A-Drain, you become eligible to borrow City tools and supplies, and you will receive the City's rain alert notifications.