Adopt-A-Drain

This program is a partnership between the City and its residents to care for our storm drains by keeping the opening to the drains free from leaves and other debris. We'd love your help to prevent localized flooding and improve water quality in Mountlake Terrace.

If you decide to adopt a drain (or multiple!) nearby, you agree to remove accumulated debris from your storm drain from October through March. Once a quarter, the Stormwater Program Manager will email you to track your volunteer time.

If you see a pollutant spill or street flooding, please contact the Operations and Maintenance crew at (425) 670-8264.  

Adopt a Drain Logo

How to Take Care of Your Drain

Leaves in catch basin

Step 1

  • Scroll to the bottom of the page and choose your drain (or drains) that you would like to adopt and claim them on the website.  Please be patient while interacting with the map, it is a work in progress!  Please let us know if you encounter any issues.
  • Download the Volunteer Service Agreement.  Sign and return the agreement to Laura Reed before cleaning your drain. If you are able to electronically sign this document please do so and return. If you need a printed copy please print the document, sign, and return to City Hall or contact Laura Reed directly. 
Adopt 1.0

Step 2

  • Gather your supplies!  This includes safety equipment such as closed toe shoes, gloves, orange cones and reflective vests.  This also includes cleaning supplies such as a broom, rake, trash grabber, dust pan and a trash bag.
  • Never remove the the storm grate.  Clean only the surface of the grate and the area around it. If you have concerns please contact Laura Reed. 
Anchor
Adopt 2

Step 3

  • Safety first!  Always be extremely cautious around traffic, wear bright colors, and work during daylight hours.  If there is a curb next to your drain(s) try to stay off the road and work from the sidewalk.
  • Using tools, collect debris and litter from the storm drain.  There could be sharp or harmful objects so use gloves or tools where possible. 
  • Consider clearing debris and litter from streets and sidewalks.  Anything on pavement can wash into your storm drain when it rains even though you have cleared the drain. 
Adopt 4

Step 4

  • Collect the debris and litter.  Deposit it into a trash bag or directly into the appropriate receptacle.  Glass, plastic, and cans should be placed in the recycle bin.  Leaves, grass, and sticks should be placed in the compost bin.  Everything else, including sediment, should be placed in the trash bin. 
  • Anything collected should not be used in a garden as it is likely to have picked up oil and other toxic materials. 
Adopt 5

Step 5

  • Celebrate cleaning your adopted storm drain, preventing flooding, and improving our waterways! 
  • At the end of December and March each year report the amount of time you have volunteered to Laura Reed. 

Adopt-A-Drain Map - Pick the drain you would like to adopt!

This link will take you to an interactive map of the Mountlake Terrace drains.  Adopted drains are green stars and available drains are purple circles. 

Click on each available drain you would like to adopt and fill out the pop-up form on the right side of the screen.  Please keep note of the names of the drains so you can fill out and return your waiver form.  The drain names are a series of letters and numbers, for example MA-01-01.  Your information will not be publicly available.  The information of your adopted drains will include the drain name and whether or not it is adopted. 

Once we receive the waiver form, please feel free to start taking care of your drain(s)!