Stormdrain Cleaning Assistance Program (SCAP)

The Stormdrain Cleaning Assistance Program (SCAP) helps prevent the pollution from private business parking lots from reaching the region's streams and rivers inexpensively.

Businesses need to sign up to participate.

By negotiating through a competitive process, the program is able to provide catch basin cleaning at the low cost of $60 each. Typically, companies charge more than $200 or more for a private service call for one drain.

Why clean your stormdrain?

• As the property owner, you are responsible for cleaning your privately owned stormdrains from top to bottom to keep the dirt and debris that carry pollution and oils from vehicles from entering the public stormwater system, including Kellogg and Johnson Creeks, and the Willamette River.
• By keeping your business’s drains clean, you are preventing flooding, a nuisance to customers, and a driving hazard.
• Keeping your business’s drains clean may also lower your risk of property damage.  Standing water seeps into asphalt cracks causing premature failure of the parking area.
• Cleaning increases dissolved oxygen, reduces levels of bacteria, and supports in-stream health. Areas with relatively flat grades or low flows should be given special attention because they rarely achieve high enough flows to flush themselves.

Information

Businesses are responsible for cleaning stormdrains on their properties. Municipalities are responsible for cleaning and maintaining stormdrains within public right-of-ways. A stormdrain is the metal grate, also called a catch basin that you have probably seen in parking lot.

This service will provide a basic cleaning and does not include additional maintenance or repair work.

The vendor performing the stormdrain cleaning may note deficiencies within your stormdrain system and provide a quote for repair. You may elect to have the work done by the vendor, or obtain additional quotes for cost comparisons.

The city participates in a partnership with other Metro area agencies to offer this discounted service.  Municipalities do not perform cleaning services for private stormdrains. The cities do not guarantee or provide any warranty for the work performed by the vendor.

To sign up, use this link: Storm Drain Cleaning Assistance Program form

More Information

For questions about participating or assistance regarding the maintenance of private drainage systems, contact publicworks@milwaukieoregon.gov.