Adopt a Storm Drain
Westfield's Department of Public Works and the Green Team are proud to be the first municipality in New Jersey to partner with Hamline University of Minnesota and offer an online storm drain management program. This effort is in collaboration with the Union County Rutgers Environmental Stewards program. Since 2005 the Rutgers Environmental Stewards program has trained volunteers in important environmental issues affecting New Jersey so they can help solve environmental problems in their communities.
Why We Are Excited About This Opportunity
When it rains, stormwater carries directly into our local watersheds:
- Animal waste
- Antifreeze
- Fertilizers
- Garbage
- Gasoline
- Grass clippings
- Leaves
- Motor oil
- Paint
- Pesticides
Most of Westfield is within the Rahway River watershed, which encompasses 83 square mile area, including parts of three New Jersey counties, 24 municipalities, and 730,000 residents. Residents and businesses can help keep our local watersheds clean by adopting storm drains in their neighborhood and committing to clearing them regularly.
Adoption Process
The adoption process is easy and quick, and you will be able to adopt or un-adopt storm drains instantly.
- Sign up and adopt a storm drain - All 3,000 of Westfield's storm drains have been uploaded into the tool. Pick one that will be easy for you to take care of: near your home, school, business or a location you frequent. Any adult, group or child aged 14 or older (with parental consent) may adopt a drain.
- Learn how to keep your storm drain clean while staying safe at the same time- Adopt a Drain includes tips on how to keep your drain clean as well as the common household tools you'll need for the job.
- Start raking! - Based on what your drain has collected you'll either need to recycle, compost or dispose of materials safely in the trash. Cleanup frequency may vary based on the season and your drain's conditions, but we recommend at least a monthly cleanup.
- Track your impact while patting yourself on the back - Adopt-a-Drain includes a tool to help you record the debris you've collected, estimate your impact and track town-wide results. Your efforts (which can take as few as 15 minutes based on your adopted site) will help keep our local rivers and streams clean.
Additional Information
If you have any questions, email the Adopt-a-Drain Program.