Village Launches Adopt A Drain

Adopt-A-Drain Launches March 22

In collaboration with the Village of Mukwonago, Waukesha County will launch an Adopt-A-Drain program on March 22nd, World Water Day.  Volunteers who adopt a storm drain remove buildup from storm drain surfaces twice a month in their neighborhood and report their work.   

The Village’s storm sewer is our first defense against flooding.  Summer storms provide a large volume of runoff which flows off surfaces like roadways and rooftops, along the curb, then into storm drain inlets.  From there, it travels through the underground pipe network and flows directly into the Mukwonago River and local lakes.  Runoff carries many pollutants such as pet waste, oil, fertilizers and organic matter into our local waters affecting the quality of our lakes and rivers.  The Mukwonago River flows into the Fox River, which flows into the Illinois River and eventually the Mississippi River where it enters the ocean in the Gulf of Mexico.   All this accumulated pollution has created a dead zone of over 6300 square miles in the Gulf of Mexico.

Department of Public Works crews are busy sweeping roads and cleaning storm drains in an effort to keep the system clean and clear.  In between Public Works cleanings, leaves and debris can build up on top of storm drain grates.   The village is asking for your help!

Volunteers will be provided a storm drain marker and safety vest to wear while cleaning the drain area. After cleaning, volunteers report into the database the amount and types of materials they removed.  This information will be used to identify and help fix issues at the source of the debris, to optimize cleaning efforts, and to prevent pollutants from entering our storm system and affecting our waters. 

Celebrate World Water Day by adopting a drain and help make a difference!

To learn more about the program and how to volunteer, visit:

www.waukeshacounty.gov/AdoptADrain