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. 

The programme is launched in Dunedin alongside the Dunedin City Council later this year, with plans to expand to other urban areas throughout Otago. At the end of an Adopt a Drain session, an ORC metal fish will be installed on a chosen drain, signifying it has been ‘adopted’ by a school, community group, 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. 

We work alongside Otago schools and Enviroschools Facilitators to raise awareness of urban stormwater pollution and encourage participation. Our Adopt a Drain schools programme is structured into three parts: 

• Session 1: What is stormwater? Students learn to how stormwater affects the health of our waterways.
• Session 2: Why is stormwater important? Students learn how to identify things that live in their local stream.
• Session 3: Let’s ‘Adopt a Drain’! - Students discuss actions their school can take to reduce stormwater pollution and a metal fish is installed on their chosen drain as a reminder of “only drain rain”. 

We are excited to announce a pilot programme at Tomahawk Lagoon in Dunedin is underway. This area has around 60 stormwater drains that flow into the lagoon, plus more drains along Highcliff Road. Stay tuned for more details! 

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. 

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.