STORM DRAINS

Sewers work best when drains are clear!

Keep litter, pollution, and yard waste out!

fall leaves and a partially full single-use plastic water bottle

Only rain should go in storm drains. Drains lead to streams and rivers.

No dog poop

No mop water

No vehicle oil

No litter

During storms, hard surfaces (like roofs and pavement) can collect water and create runoff.

Clogged inlets prevent water from entering sewers. Streets and sidewalks can flood.

Expanding green infrastructure

Nature-based practices can help reduce the volume of stormwater that sewers must manage.

Show crews some love

Our crews live and work in Philadelphia

In addition to maintaining 72,000+ inlets, we also respond to dozens of requests per day to retrieve objects lost or discarded in drains!

“Our job every day is … serving the community. We try to go the extra mile to get it done.”

Assistant Superintendent for Inlet Cleaning
Photo: Chloe Geiger, JPG Photo & Video © PWD

Our crews maintain thousands of storm drains across the city!

Doing Your Part

A pile of litter being cleared away from a storm drain in the street with a shovel

Cleaning up (not in!)

Clearing litter away from your local drain helps. Bag it safely for trash. Don’t send it down a drain!

Recycle fall leaves

See more info from the Streets Department:

▶ phila.gov/leaf-recycling

illustration of a frying pan pouring a blob of grease out the side

Never send grease down a sink or drain!

Grease accumulates. It can lead to costly damages to sewers and your property’s plumbing.

Help us take care of storm drains!

drawing of a storm drain at the edge of the street cluttered with litter and leaves

Request a cleaning for a storm drain.

Call “311“
▶ www.phila.gov/311

the litter and leaves cluttering the storm drain block water from flowing in, so it floods the street around it

Report a clogged storm drain or flooded street.

Call PWD: (215) 685-6300

Tips for getting in touch:

Be ready to provide an address, or describe which corner or location needs attention. It helps to be specific!

Sign up to receive more tips and other news:
water.phila.gov/signup

City of Philadelphia / Philadelphia Water Department