Falmouth & Mashpee · Waquoit Bay watershed
Adopt a drain.
Protect Waquoit Bay.
Every storm drain in Falmouth and Mashpee carries rainwater — and whatever it picks up along the way — straight into our watershed. Volunteer to keep an eye on a drain near you and help keep our bay clean.
How it works
Three steps, about five minutes
Signing up takes about five minutes. A yearly reading takes just a few minutes.
- 1
Pick a drain
Browse the map and pick an unadopted storm drain near your home, school, or workplace.
- 2
Adopt it
Sign in with email and claim the drain. We'll send a quick orientation and your first reminder.
- 3
Log readings
Check your drain about once a year — and after heavy rain. Snap a photo, note any debris, and submit a reading in a few minutes.
Why it matters
Small effort, real protection
Keeping storm drains clear is one of the most practical things any resident can do for local water quality. Every drain you monitor helps:
- Reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and other pollutants flowing into Waquoit Bay and local ponds
- Prevent street flooding during heavy rain
- Give the DPW actionable data on which drains need service first
- Build grassroots support for storm water infrastructure funding
Waquoit Bay is a nationally significant estuary — its six sub-embayments have exceeded their nitrogen limits in every year measured. Keeping pollutants out of stormwater is one piece of the puzzle we can act on today.