The Adopt a Drain programme is an initiative led by Otago Regional Council, to educate about the impact stormwater pollution can have on the environment and our waterways.

This programme will be launched in Dunedin with the Dunedin City Council later this year, and we plan to expand it into other urban areas in Otago.

Stormwater isn’t pure water. As it runs over the ground and paved areas towards a drain, it picks up pollutants. So, whatever goes into the drain – whether poured in intentionally or washed down with rainwater – enters our waterways without being treated.

The aim of this programme is to reduce contaminants entering waterways by educating and encouraging people to adopt a drain and ensure the health of our urban streams. It's important to understand the surrounding stormwater infrastructure and how to mitigate potential pollutants from entering the system. A good rule of thumb is: only rain should go down the drain. This means preventing pollutants like car oil, soap suds, rubbish, household and industrial products (paints, solvents, fertiliser etc) from entering the stormwater network, as they can severely harm fragile aquatic environments.

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:

We work alongside Enviroschools to raise awareness of urban stormwater pollution and encourage participation.

The education outreach is structured in three parts and the catchment advisors run the sessions in person.

• Session 1: What is Stormwater - Understand the relationship between stormwater and the health of our (urban) catchment.
• Session 2: Why stormwater is important - Learn how to identify macroinvertebrates in your stream. Linking stormwater to water quality and biodiversity.
• Session 3: Let’s adopt a drain! - Students /schools discuss actions they can take to mitigate stormwater pollution. Catchment advisors install a metal fish next to a chosen drain as a reminder of the school’s commitment to “only drain rain”.

A pilot programme with the community is underway at Tomahawk Lagoon in Dunedin. Within this catchment, there are around 60 stormwater drains that flow into the lagoon plus more drains at the top of the catchment along Highcliff Road.

At the end of each Adopt a Drain session, a steel fish is installed beside the storm drain.  Adopt a Drain is being piloted in this catchment because there was a strong desire from the locals to improve the water quality in the lagoon.

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 steel 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 to take responsibility for their local storm drains. By ‘adopting’ a drain, participants learn how to prevent everyday pollutants from entering the stormwater system and discover practical ways to protect local waterways.

In the Dunedin area, contact catchments@orc.govt.nz

In Wānaka, Albert Town or Hāwea, contact getinvolved@waiwanaka.nz