Adopt a Catch Basin Programs

11/17/25

“How can neighborhood residents take care of their local catch basins?”

Catch basins accumulate debris underneath and on top of their grating. If this mess is left uncleaned, then floods may pile up, and the inside of pipes may become less functional. While it takes advanced equipment to clean underneath the grating, sweeping away debris from the top is very straightforward. Municipal governments have established Adopt a Catch Basin Programs to invite residents to routinely clean the catch basins in their neighborhoods. Residents may be assigned a particular catch basin to clear. Adopt a catch basin programs go a long way to make neighborhoods healthier and more resilient to climate change.

Image credit: https://portal.311.nyc.gov/

• Earth/Climate science
• Engineering
• Policy
• Urban Systems