WAI Wānaka is encouraging residents to get involved with its ‘Adopt A Drain’ initiative, which sees people teaming up to take care of a stormwater drain in their area.

Six neighbourhood groups and four pre-schools have signed up to ‘Adopt A Drain’ this year, WAI Wānaka comms co-ordinator and education support Jaylene Harper told the Wānaka App.

“We’re encouraging every street in every neighbourhood in the urban Upper Clutha to ‘adopt’ the storm drains on their street,” she said.

“This starts by gathering a few of your neighbours together, contacting WAI Wānaka and finding a time that suits us all to run a little workshop on your street. We chat about where your stormwater goes, and what we can be doing to mitigate stormwater pollution in our catchment.”

Several local businesses and organisations have also funded Enviropod LittaTrap units for installation in key areas susceptible to rubbish. 

The first LittaTrap - which captures and retains litter in stormwater drains before they enter the drainage system - being installed in Albert Town.

The LittaTraps can be easily retrofitted into stormwater drains to capture and retain plastic and other litter before they enter the drainage system.

These have a dual purpose, Jaylene said: “to educate these communities on what sorts of rubbish is ending up in our waterways through the stormwater system, and to stop it entering the waterways from that storm drain.”

There are two LittaTraps in Albert Town, paid for and looked after by the Albert Town Communtiy Assocation, plus Breen, Mitre 10 Mega and Wānaka Rotary Club have funded LittaTraps for the Lake Wānaka waterfront, Bullock Creek and Paetara Aspiring Central.

Urban development is one of the five key pressures identified by the Upper Clutha Community Catchment Plan in 2020, Jaylene said.

‘Drains are streams and what goes down our storm drain goes out into the lake, or river, or in some cases will eventually end up in the groundwater.”

Anyone who wants to get involved with Adopt a Drain can get in touch with Jaylene at [email protected].

Neighbourhoods can get involved free of charge thanks to support from the Central Lakes Trust, but Jaylene said WAI is looking for sponsorship opportunities to support workshops, volunteer coordination etc.

PHOTOS: Supplied