ADOPT-A-DRAIN
The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) in partnership with 10 local municipalities and with funding from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection MS4 Municipal Assistance Program is launching an Adopt-a-Drain program. Through this program, volunteers sign up to adopt a drain (or drains!) and then check on that drain and remove any excess trash/build up before and after heavy rain, wind, or snow. The result: clean rivers and lakes and less local flooding.
Why Adopt-a-Drain?
Since asphalt and pavement can’t absorb water, rainfall and snowmelt must flow to storm drains and eventually into our waterways. This water is called stormwater. Along the way, stormwater can pick up harmful pollutants and chemicals from things like pet waste, garden fertilizer and road salts. Stormwater is not treated before it enters our lakes and rivers which means that we must ensure that our water systems stay clean and pollutant free.
Our waters are not as clean as they once were, but it only takes a few simple steps to make a big difference in our water quality.
