The Adopt a Drain programme is an initiative that aims to educate and empower schools and urban residents to protect local waterways by reducing stormwater pollution. 

Adopt a Drain has two key parts: a schools programme, which is already underway throughout Otago, and a community programme, launching this spring in Dunedin in collaboration with Dunedin City Council. At the end of each Adopt a Drain session, an ORC metal fish is installed on a chosen stormwater drain, signifying it has been ‘adopted’ by a school, community group, neighbourhood or household.

Stormwater isn’t pure rainwater. As it flows over the ground and paved areas towards a drain, it picks up pollutants. Whatever goes down a storm drain, whether poured in intentionally or washed down with rainwater, enters our waterways untreated. Understanding how stormwater networks function and how to stop pollutants such as car oil, soap suds, solvents and fertilisers from entering a storm drain is important for everyone. Remember: only drain rain. 

In Wānaka, local organisations the Touchstone Project and WAI Wānaka have been at the forefront of stormwater education in their community. In 2018, The Touchstone Project created metal cut-outs of local fish, known as 'Freshwater Beasties on Drains.' These fish were installed beside storm drains with the help of students from Wānaka Primary to remind the community of the connection between stormwater and local aquatic life. This initiative was a collaboration with Fish and Game Otago and Friends of Bullock Creek.

Building on this project, WAI Wānaka launched their Adopt a Drain initiative in 2022. The programme encourages urban residents, schools, and businesses of Wānaka, Hāwea and Luggate to take responsibility for their local storm drains. Learn more about WAI Wānaka’s Adopt a Drain programme here. 

In 2024, Otago Regional Council’s Catchment Advisor team met with WAI Wānaka to explore how the concept could be adapted and expanded across Otago. While inspired by the work happening in Wānaka, the ORC Adopt a Drain programme has now evolved into its own version – tailored to suit a range of local communities and designed to grow across the region.

We've created this neat interactive map that will show the location of all drains throughout Otago - and when they're claimed you can zoom in to see the details. 

The Adopt-A-Drain map sometimes takes a moment to load:

Whether you’re ready to adopt a drain or just want to learn more, we’d love to hear from you!

If you live in Wānaka, Albert Town, Hāwea or Luggate, contact getinvolved@waiwanaka.nz to connect with the WAI Wānaka team.

If you live in any other urban area in Otago, including the Dunedin area, contact catchments@orc.govt.nz to reach our Catchment Advisor team.