Adopt A Drain Program

About the Program

Through the Adopt A Drain program, community members can quickly and easily assist the Public Works Department in keeping the city beautiful and clean. 

Participants, known as Drain Defenders, inspect their adopted drain and surroundings, removing leaves and debris from the drain grate and nearby area throughout the year and before storms.

How to Adopt

1. Visit the Adopt A Drain interactive map. 
2. Enter an email address into the sign-up field.
3. The system will then ask for the following information:
   • First Name
   • Last Name
   • Team Name (You can choose a team name (optional) if you are representing a group that will be working together , such as a neighborhood organization or scouts.)
   • Subdivision Name (optional)
4. Once signed up, you will receive a login link via email. This email also includes a link to the Adopt A Drain informational packet.
5. Click the link to access the Adopt-a-Drain map. 
6. Next, select a drain. We recommend selecting a drain near your home or business for convenience. 
7. Next, name your drain. Have fun with this, but please be appropriate and respectful! 
8. After you name your drain, hit the "adopt" button. 
9. Once you click adopt, you will be prompted to accept or decline a liability waiver. You must agree before completing the adoption process. If you choose to decline the terms of the agreement, you will not be able to continue or participate in the program.

Adopters should refer to the informational packet included in the welcome email for information about when and how to clean their drain. We encourage adopters to use the Adopt A Drain application map to submit a photo of their drain, report an issue with their drain, and confirm that the storm drain has been cleaned. If you decide you no longer want to participate in the program, simply sign in to the application and select "abandon drain." 

Refer A Friend

Sign up for a referral code, invite your family and friends to adopt a drain and get rewarded!  

Start referring 

Eligibility

Am I eligible to make referrals?

You can participate in the Refer A Friend program if:

• you are an existing drain defender and care for at least one drain.
• you have been provided a referral code and are not a current member of the program.

The Refer A Friend program is not available to:

• residents adding a second drain to an existing account.
• non-Naperville residents.

Who can I refer and what do they need to do?

You can refer anyone who is not already a program member. For the referral to qualify, your friends/family must enter your referral code into the referral field when registering for their new Adopt A Drain account.

How many people can I refer?

As many as you think will participate in the program! Participants will gain one entry into a drawing for a monthly prize each time their code is used.

Steps for Referred Friends and Family

If you've been referred to the Adopt A Drain program through the Refer A Friend Program, follow the instructions in the HOW TO APPLY section of this webpage.

Use your referral code

Why Adopt?

Adopting a drain is one of the many ways you can keep Naperville clean and prevent flooding in your neighborhood streets! Reasons to adopt include: 

1. Help keep the streets flood free.
2. Leaves, grass clippings, trash, and other debris can prevent water from draining, leading to flooding of the streets.
3. Adopting is a great opportunity to take leadership in your community.
4. Adopting a drain is a great way for volunteer groups to get involved, and an easy way to get community service. The city would love your help!
5. Help keep our waterways clean and protect our aquatic wildlife.
6. Trash that flows into the drains may end up in the local rivers, endangering wildlife.

Use the Adopt-a-Drain map to find and adopt a storm drain near you!

View the Map