Storm Drains are Gatekeepers

Arlington may be a small county but it has plenty of storm drains: more than 10,000 storm drains. They provide an outlet for water to leave the street, enter a pipe network and eventually be released into the closest stream. There is no “treatment” within the storm drain system, meaning that anything that goes down the storm drain goes directly to Arlington streams – litter, oil, bacteria, mud, sand, leaves, etc. That is why you’ll see the storm drain markers with the slogan “Only rain down the drain.”

Permanent obstructions, including grates, may not be installed in front of any of the County’s storm drains. Why? Because storm drains are strategically located where water flows and/or collects during storms. The drains in these locations help protect public safety and property by removing water that could cause cars to hydroplane and general flooding in the area. If a grate or other obstruction is placed in front of a storm drain and is blocked by leaves, litter or any other debris, the street in front of the storm drain could flood during a storm.

If there is an emergent situation where a blocked storm drain is causing flooding to a property or to the road, call 703-228-6555 to report the issue 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Example storm drain that is receiving a lot of runoff. If this storm drain was blocked during a storm, the surrounding area would flood very quickly.