Ready to clean your adopted storm drain but not sure where to start? Here are some guidelines before you head out there to make an impact on your community and our watershed!
SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR CLEANING A STORM DRAIN
Don’t clean during periods of high traffic!
At no point should you risk your safety for storm drain cleanup! Be sure to clean the storm drain from the sidewalk or curb area rather than from the street.Never clean during rains!
Though rain events are what direct debris to storm drains, never clean a storm drain during heavy rains. The strength of the water flow can be hazardous. Cleaning after heavy rains, however, is an excellent time to collect debris from storm drains.Always wear gloves!
Some debris can be sharp, including broken glass, rough metal, and on rare occasions needles. When disposing of broken glass or rough metals, be cautious of cuts through the plastic bag.Don’t attempt to dispose of needles!
Syringes can pose health hazards. If you encounter a needle, contact 911 to report it.Never remove a grate!
When cleaning a storm drain, the job is to only clean the surface of the grate. Never attempt to remove a grate or attempt to clean inside the catch basin.Always clean during daylight!
It’s important to always be visible to drivers while cleaning a storm drain.
GUIDELINES FOR CLEANING STORM DRAINS
Remove litter as well as organic items such as leaves, branches, which can cause harmful algae buildup in the storm drains.
If you participate in your municipality’s recycling program, bring an extra bag for recyclables.
If your municipality offers a composting program, a great option is to collect the leaves, grass, and branches collected around your storm drain to be composted.
Report what you find! Fill out the Adopt a Storm Drain cleanup report at https://www.keeptnriverbeautiful.org/storm-drain-report so we can measure the Adopt a Storm Drain program’s and celebrate your contribution. The cleanup report password is tnriver.