On Saturday, September 30th, Neighborhood Engagement Office hosted 60 neighborhood and community leaders at the Treme Center for a Training Day on catch basin clean-ups. The Resilience Office delivered an informative presentation on how our drainage system works and how to and why we should clean catch basins. There was also a brief presentation from the City’s Information Technology and Innovation Department showcasing the Adopt-A-Catch Basin app set to be release Friday, October 6, 2017.
Following a thoughtful Q&A session, the group was directed outside to watch a live demo of a catch basin being cleaned. Volunteers were able to clean around the catch basin and observe the vacuum truck clean inside the catch basin. The crew cleaned one catch basin that was in pretty good shape, and then one that required more time and effort from the cleaning crew.
Residents commented on how labor intensive the cleaning process was and how much information they gained simply by observing the process. Leaders were connected to their neighborhood liaisons to sign up for the District clean-ups and to get more information and help in coordinating their own clean-ups.
This was a very successful day. Thanks to all the dedicated neighborhood leaders who joined us, and thanks to our hardworking crewmembers that are working day in and day out all around the city!