The City of Chelsea is asking residents to keep fallen leaves out of storm drains this fall, and is pointing them to a regional volunteer program that lets a resident adopt the drain on their own street.
In a post on Thursday, the city said leaves can clog storm drains, cause flooding and pollute local waterways. Its advice is short:
- Rake leaves away from storm drains.
- Compost or mulch them.
- Leave some on the lawn, where they support pollinators.
Why a clogged drain matters
Pavement does not absorb water, so rain and snowmelt run along the curb to the nearest storm drain and from there into rivers and lakes. The Mystic River Watershed Association, the nonprofit behind the adoption program, notes that this stormwater is not treated before it reaches the water. On the way it can pick up pet waste, garden fertilizer and road salt. A drain covered with leaves or trash cannot take the water in, and the street floods instead.
How Adopt-a-Drain works
The association runs Adopt-a-Drain with 10 municipalities in the watershed, paid for by a Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection program that helps cities and towns manage stormwater. A volunteer signs up for one drain or several, then checks on it and clears away trash and buildup before and after heavy rain, wind or snow. The association says the result is cleaner rivers and lakes and less local flooding.
The city’s post sends residents to mysticriver.org/adopt-a-drain to learn more and sign up. The page has a short explainer and a section for finding drains near you. The association adds that some of its general advice may not apply in every city and suggests checking with your own municipality.
The city’s post is in English and Spanish.