Submitted by The City of Olympia
As we transition into the rainy season, leaves, sand and other debris can clog storm drains and cause local flooding. City crews will be working to keep storm drains clear, but with over 6,300 storm drains in Olympia, we could use your help! If minor flooding occurs, you can use a garden rake or shovel to remove the leaves from the drain. Remember, safety always comes first. If flooding is severe, you feel unsafe, or you are unable to clear a drain, please contact Public Works Emergency Dispatch for assistance at 360-753-8333.
Keep Leaves Out of the Street
Once you’ve cleared leaves from a drain, be sure to completely remove them from the street or they will wind up in another drain. If you have leaves in your yard never rake or blow them into the road. To properly dispose of leaves, simply dump them in your Organics Cart with other yard waste. Don’t have an organics cart? Call 360.753.8340 to sign up.
Another great, sustainable option is to turn the leaves into compost for use in your yard or garden. When properly used as mulch or compost, leaves provide outstanding organic matter and nutrients to the soil. Get more information about composting on our Backyard Composting web page.
