Adopt-a-Drain:
An Award-winning National Clean-Water Program
Adopt-a-Drain is a community engagement program aimed at protecting local waterways. Residents "adopt" a drain, give it a name, remove debris from the drain, and report their cleaning activities. By working together, communities can keep their water clean and reduce street flooding.
Adopt-a-Drain was developed by the Center for Global Environmental Education and the Metro Watershed Partners in 2014, after surveying existing programs and finding none that met our needs. The program is based on extensive research and best practices in environmental psychology and behavior change and was refined through focus groups with residents and local water organizations. In 2024, Adopt-a-Drain was awarded the Public Communication & Outreach Program by the Water Environment Federation.
The program has been implemented in over 140 jurisdictions across the country and engaged more than 17,000 people leading to over 900,000 lbs of debris being kept from our local bodies of water.
Bring Adopt-a-Drain to your community!
Join one of our Introduction to Adopt-a-Drain webinars to learn more about the award-winning program, how the program can help you meet your MS4 education and outreach requirements, and how easy it is to participate. Webinars are typically held on the third Tuesday of the month at 3:00pm Central Time via Zoom. We're also happy to set up a one on one meeting to talk through the program
Upcoming webinars:
Thursday, May 15, 2025, 3:00 pm CT
Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 3:00 pm CT
Adopt-a-Drain K-12
Bring Adopt-a-Drain to the Classroom
Introducing the Adopt-a-Drain K-12 program. Printed materials, online resources, and professional support to help K-12 educators flexibly integrate this program into their own curriculum, school, and community.
Check out our new book, "Drainy Days"! Based on real adventures of a dedicated group of Adopt-a-Drain students and teachers in Minneapolis Public Schools.
Adopt-a-Drain in the News
Adopt-a-Drain is awarded the Water Environment Federation's 2024 Public Communication and Outreach Program Award.
City of Niceville is awarded the Florida Stormwater Association's 2024 Excellence award in Public Education Effort for their Adopt-a-Drain program.
Storm Drain Spotlight, The Watershed Podcast, We Are Water MN, Apr. 25, 2024.
Thousands of Minnesotans adopt storm drains for cleaner waterways, neighborhoods, WCCO CBS Minnesota, Oct. 16, 2023.
‘Model for New Jersey’: Westfield Earns State Award for ‘Adopt-a-Drain’ Program, Tap Into Westfield, Apr. 9, 2023.
‘It’s Draining Men’: When Citizens Name Municipal Fixtures, the Puns Flow Freely, Wall Street Journal, Mar. 6, 2023.
Minnesota (n)Ice: We lead the way in storm drain adoptions, Kare11, Jan. 20, 2023.
Storm Drain Adoption Programs in the United States
Read our 2022 report about Storm Drain Adoption programs in the United States.
Some of our findings:
Over 170 active programs in the United States
86 programs are run by CGEE's Adopt-a-Drain
Minneapolis, MN has the highest number of drains adopted.
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