Windy, rainy weather is here and so are our fall leaves.
Unfortunately, leaves clog storm drains and can cause flooding on rainy days. You can help reduce flooding in your neighborhood by raking leaves before they reach street and by safely clearing leaves and other debris from storm drains. If you can’t safely clear the drain, please report it using the City of Seattle’s Find It, Fix It app.
To support leaf free drains, SPU household food and yard waste customers can set out up to 10 extra bags of leaves each collection day in November for no additional charge. Please put extra yard waste (no food) into a paper or certified compostable lawn and leaf bag (not plastic) or a personal reusable container with a lid. Remember: leaves cleaned from drains need to go in the garbage!
Be a Drainspotter!
Seattle’s storm drains collect water from our streets and gutters and channel it to local waterways. Especially in fall, it’s important to keep storm drains free and clear of leaf debris to reduce flooding. Keep an eye on the storm drains near you and make sure they don’t get clogged!
Please stay safe when clearing leaves and other debris from storm drains:
- Wear gloves and use tools – not your hands!
- Work from the sidewalk or curb. Stay safe by staying out of the street.
- Practice proper disposal. Normally, raked leaves go in your yard waste or are used as mulch. But leaves from the storm drain go in the garbage due to pollution and contamination.
Rain happens. Get Ready.
As the weather changes, Seattle Public Utilities wants everyone to be weather ready:
- Prevent flooding by raking leaves and safely clearing leaves and other debris from storm drains.
- Let us know if a clogged storm drain can’t be cleared or is unsafe to clear using the Find It, Fix It app.
- Signup for AlertSeattle, the City of Seattle’s official emergency alert system, and stay updated about the City’s winter storm response.
- Learn about private drainage system maintenance.