NOLA Debuts Catch Basin Adoption Website
The Department of Public Works is spending $22 million on catch basin cleanings and repairs and is expected to clean 15,000 drains in 120 days, according to Mayor Landrieu's office, which said while the city will unclog and repair drains, it is important for residents to keep catch basins clear of trash and debris to prevent further issues.
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu last week announced the city's new Adopt-A-Catch Basin website as the city urged residents to help it clean and maintain more than 65,000 catch basins, in order to prevent street flooding during storms. The site is managed by the city's Information Technology and Innovation Department.
"With over 65,000 catch basins, proper maintenance requires partnership with the people of New Orleans, and I am thankful for the residents who continue to step up to make our city stronger," said Landrieu. "The new Adopt-A-Catch Basin website is the city's latest example of our innovative methods to engage residents in our efforts to make New Orleans the city we have always dreamed of."
Residents who visit the site are taken to a map showing catch basins across New Orleans. They can enter an address or look around the map to find a catch basin to adopt; after selecting an available catch basin denoted by a green symbol, residents will name the newly adopted one and will be prompted to select the status of the adopted catch basin. If the catch basin is broken, they should select "It Doesn't Drain" to inform the Department of Public Works about the problem.
Before and after major rain events, residents will receive preparedness messages from the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness reminding them of proper catch basin maintenance; residents should expect to receive messages after an extended period of inactivity on the webpage.
"With the help of our partners, we are excited to launch a tool that helps encourage New Orleanians to adopt the catch basins in their neighborhoods. This new technology takes the city's civic engagement to the next level, as it allows us to hear from residents in an innovative way, better track work, and improve our service," Acting Chief Information Officer Kimberly W. LaGrue said.
The Department of Public Works is spending $22 million on catch basin cleanings and repairs and is expected to clean 15,000 drains in 120 days, according to Landrieu's office. It said while the city will unclog and repair drains, it is important for residents to keep catch basins clear of trash and debris to prevent further issues. DPW Interim Director Dani Galloway said, "We are grateful for the help of residents in clearing and cleaning catch basins. While we unclog and repair drains, the residents play a major part by ensuring that the catch basins are kept clear of debris to prevent flooding in our streets."