In September 2017, Virginia Beach City Council approved a new Adopt-a-Drain program, similar to other storm drain adoption programs across the country. The Virginia Beach Adopt-a-Drain program is now ready to accept volunteers who would like to help protect their local waterways.
Residents of Virginia Beach can now help keep local waterways clean and healthy simply by adopting storm drains in their neighborhoods and pledging to sweep around the drains a few times a year. Adopt-a-Drain volunteers pledge to keep the area around a storm drain free of debris like grass clippings, leaves, pine needles, sediment, and trash. Keeping the area clear helps prevent pollution from entering the storm drain system, which leads directly to a local stream or waterbody. Debris that makes its way into storm drains can also contribute to localized flooding in cases of heavy build-up and rainfall.
City Councilwoman Jessica Abbott proposed the Adopt-a-Drain program after observing storm drains while walking her dog. “The Adopt-a-Drain program is a great way to engage in environmental stewardship. Adopters bring awareness of stormwater pollution issues to their neighborhoods while helping to reduce litter and debris in our local waterways,” says Abbott.
To learn more about the program, go to https://www.vbgov.com/adopt-a-drain or adopt a drain today by going to https://drains.vbgov.com/.
Blog contributed by Tara Onufrak, askHRgreen.org Team Member and Stormwater Outreach Coordinator with Virginia Beach Public Works.