Two children raking leaves on the street standing on the sidewalk

A grate way to give back — adopt a catch basin in your community

November 3 2025 –

As the weather changes and Vancouver experiences strong winds and intense rainfall, we are encouraging residents to show their local catch basin some love and help us reduce the risk of flooding and ponding in our streets.  

There are 45,000 catch basins across the City of Vancouver. Crews work diligently to keep them clear, but it is often difficult to attend to them all within a short time after a heavy rainfall event. 

That’s why nearly a decade ago, the City launched a program to encourage residents to adopt a catch basin and keep it clear all year long. Of the over 40,000 adoptable catch basins 7,900 are currently adopted with approximately 33,000 still looking for good homes. Residents are provided with supplies to keep their catch basin clear and are encouraged to come up with fun name for their basin with some notable standouts being ‘DraineyMcDrainerson,’ ‘NoLeaves McGee’ and ‘leafmealone.’  

Keeping catch basins clear helps keep streets clean and safe for pedestrians and drivers. It also prevents debris from getting swept into adjacent waterways that are often habitats for wildlife. 

“I want to thank these amazing volunteers whose dedication helps keep our communities safe during extreme weather events,” said Mayor Ken Sim. “It’s incredibly encouraging to see nearly 3,700 residents working together to help clear their catch basins and prevent flooding. I encourage all residents to adopt a catch basin in their community.” 

To adopt a catch basin: 

  1. Go to adoptacatchbasin.ca 
  2. Using the map, choose a catch basin to care for and give it a name.  
  3. Consider adopting a catch basin that is marked with a heart on the map. These “needy” basins are prone to flooding and require extra care. 
  4. Start caring for your catch basin right away. The best time to check on catch basins is before and after heavy rain or snow, and when trees have shed their leaves.  
  5. Let us know your catch basin is clear. On the map, select your catch basin and click “service.”  

Remember, never rake or blow leaves from the boulevard or sidewalk onto the street. This creates a safety hazard for pedestrians and cyclists, can cause flooding, and is a fineable offence under the Street and Traffic Bylaw (951 KB).  There are no City By-laws that require residents to clear sidewalks of leaves. 

Upcoming community catch basin clearing events  

Some neighbourhoods have more needy catch basins than others. Get out to one of our free catch basin clearing events and meet other members of your community. 

Follow these safety guidelines when clearing catch basins: 

  • Do not use your hands to move leaves or debris blocking the catch basin. Instead, use a long-handled rake, broom or shovel to clear away materials. 
  • Wear bright clothing or a safety vest so you are visible to traffic.  
  • Be aware of cars, bikes and pedestrians, and stay out of the street whenever possible. 
  • Cross streets at signals or marked crosswalks, not mid-block.   

Report hazardous materials 

  • Do not attempt to move or pick up hazardous materials like needles, broken glass, or dead wildlife.  
  • Report hazardous materials by using Van311 app/website or call 3-1-1.  
  • Report discarded needles by calling the Mobile Needle Exchange at 604-657-6561