Adopt a Drain SF
Join thousands of local volunteers and adopt one of the 25,000 storm drains in our beautiful city and pledge to keep it free of debris.
In our Adopt a Drain SF program, we partner with local residents like you to help keep San Francisco's 25,000 storm drains and catch basins clear of leaves, debris, and trash, preventing them from entering our sewer system.
Benefits of Adopt a Drain
- SF Enables stormwater to drain properly and reduces risk of flooding.
- Protects the environment by minimizing pollutants and trash that go down the drain.
- Helps keep our streets clean and neat.
- Fosters community engagement by encouraging residents to take an active role in improving their neighborhood.
Learn more below. To sign up, visit adoptadrain.sfwater.org.
How to Care for Your Adopted Drain
- If possible, clear the drain before it starts raining.
- Put leaves and other natural material in the green compost bin. Put trash in the black garbage bin.
- Clear about 10 feet on both sides of the drain.
- Drain completely clogged and flooding roadway? Medical waste or needles? Construction debris? Toxic materials? Report it to the City's Customer Service Center, SF311.org on the web (or dial 3-1-1).
Drain Clearing Safety Tips
- Never try to lift the drain grate.
- Clear from the sidewalk, not the street.
- Wear reflective clothing so vehicles can see you.
- Always wear gloves and be careful of sharp objects!
- Use a rake, broom, or shovel - not your hands.
Remember, the City and County of San Francisco won't be held responsible for anything that happens to you or others in service of maintaining your drain. Please be careful!
Free Tools and Training
Once you sign up, you’ll receive periodic email notifications prior to large storms to clear your drain(s) before it rains. You’ll also receive invites to VIP volunteer events during the rainy season where you can get safety gear and drain clearing supplies.
Why adopt a drain?
In San Francisco, we have a combined sewer system that collects stormwater and sewage in the same network of pipes. While the system is made to handle a significant amount of rainfall, in large rain storms when the system reaches capacity, some low-lying areas of the City, especially areas that used to be creeks or streams, can experience flooding and property damage. No sewer system, including ours, can be designed to manage all the stormwater in all storms.
Our preventative operations and maintenance program includes inspecting, cleaning, repairing, and replacing aging sewers. Our crews use specialized trucks and equipment to deep clean more than 5,000 of the City’s 25,000+ catch basins each year, with a focus on low-lying areas of the city that are prone to flooding. We also monitor the weather forecasts carefully and when major storms are expected, we increase our staffing and deploy strike teams to monitor priority areas prone to flooding, even at night and on weekends.
Keeping storm drains and catch basins clear of leaves and debris helps avoid flooding and enables stormwater to drain properly. We appreciate our drain adopters to help us keep the drains clear of leaves and debris, protect the environment and help minimize risk of flooding. Find a drain and sign up at adoptadrain.sfwater.org.
Program Background
Code for San Francisco, a non-profit volunteer group and local chapter of Code for America, used open data (drain locations) to develop the Adopt a Drain web application at no cost to the city. The program was inspired by Boston’s Adopt a Hydrant Program. The popular program has garnered media attention and attracted interest from various city, state and national governments who are interested in replicating it in their community.
Spread the Word
Excited about the Adopt a Drain program? We encourage you to invite your coworkers, friends and neighbors to participate. Use social media to spread the word or pass along this flyer.
Read Our Frequently Asked Questions
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When should I clear my drain?
It's best to clear the drain before it starts raining to help prevent flooding, and after it rains to clean up any debris that has materialized. Once you sign up, you’ll receive periodic email notifications prior to large storms so you can clean your drain(s) before it rains.
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What are the instructions on how to clear my drain?
- If possible, clear the drain before it starts raining.
- Put leaves and other natural material in the green compost bin. Put trash in the black garbage bin.
- Clear about 10 feet on both sides of the drain.
- Medical waste or needles? Construction debris? Drain clogged beneath the grate? Report it to the City's Customer Service Center, 311 (or dial 3-1-1).
Please note that the city will not be responsible for any injuries or incidents that may occur while cleaning your drain.
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How can I find out which drain I adopted?
On the Adopt a Drain website, the “My drains” section contains the name and the address of the drain you have adopted. Your drain/s will appear on the map as orange icons.
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What is the City doing to ensure that storm drains stay clear of debris?
City crews deep clean between 5,000-9,000 catch basins each year using large vacuum trucks. The SFPUC operates and maintains 25,000+ storm drains and 1,000 miles of combined sewer pipes, which collect and treat sanitary sewage from homes and businesses as well as street runoff.
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What are the colored dots on the sidewalks in front of the drains throughout the City?
The dots signify that the Bicycle Courier Team for the SFPUC’s Mosquito Abatement Program has been to that location and used water soluble larvicide to ensure that the sewers are mosquito free.
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How do I abandon a drain I have adopted?
Click on orange icon for the drain you want to abandon and then click on “Abandon this drain” inside the message that appears.
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How do I change the name of a drain I have adopted?
The best way to change the name of your drain is to abandon your drain, readopt it and give it a new name.
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What if there is a drain missing from the list of drains on the website?
Our data is not always accurate about the 25K drains throughout San Francisco; we rely on people to inform us. Simply email us and we will update our database. Thank you!
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Can I adopt a drain if I don’t have access to a computer?
Yes, just email us at RainReadySF@sfwater.org or call (415) 554-3289 and notify us of the location of the drain you want to adopt and if you would like to give it a name. We will go online and adopt that specific drain for you so others know the drain has been claimed.
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Is it possible to adopt a rain garden too?
We do not currently have an official program that enables people to adopt rain gardens but we appreciate your interest! We would love to put you in touch with staff who are developing a program for residents to adopt other assets. Email us at RainReadySF@sfwater.org.
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If I missed the VIP event, how can I get tools/supplies?
Please email us at RainReadySF@sfwater.org. We might have another event scheduled soon, and will notify you of the date/time, otherwise let us know that you are requesting tools for Adopt a Drain and we may be able to coordinate a time for you to come to 525 Golden Gate Ave. and pick up supplies.