Autumn brings brilliant colors to Pittsburgh’s trees, but fallen leaves can cause challenges for our sewers and streams.

Leaves left on the ground can block and clog storm drains, contributing to street flooding when it rains. Excess leaves can also cause nutrient pollution and oxygen depletion in our streams and rivers when carried there through storm drains and sewer pipes, which harms fish and other wildlife. 

Do your part to help protect storm drains and streams: 

• Do not rake or blow leaves off your property into the street.
• Do not pile leaves or other yard waste near storm drains.
• Place your leaves in a bag for curbside yard debris collection or compost them at home.
• If you have a mulching lawnmower, use it to recycle leaves and their nutrients into your lawn.
• If you see leaves or other debris on top of a storm drain grate, carefully remove them and dispose of them properly if safe to do so. However, never attempt to reach inside a storm drain or lift the grate.

If you see a clogged or broken storm drain, please call our 24/7 Dispatch at 412-255-2423 (Press 1), contact us @pgh2o on Twitter, or fill out our Report an Issue webform so that we can send out a crew.

Learn more at pgh2o.com/reducing-stormwater-pollution and pittsburghpa.gov/dpw/leaf-waste.