LOUISVILLE, KY— Before the rain falls and streets fill with water, Louisville MSD drainage crews take steps to protect Louisville Metro from localized flooding. They check large drainage ditches and culverts in areas with flooding issues, ensuring they are open and debris-free.
You can help, too! Be a good neighbor by not raking leaves or yard waste into a drainage ditch or channel. The debris may flow away from your site but can cause trouble for folks downstream.
Street flooding can also happen when catch basins, openings along the curb of a roadway that “catch” rainwater, become clogged with leaves and debris. MSD has full-time employees dedicated to cleaning and clearing these catch basins. It is a big job since Jefferson County has nearly 75,000 catch basins!
Do not rake any leaves or debris into these catch basins. Some flow directly to a stream, and some are part of the sewer system. The added leaves and debris can cause clogs and backups in these systems. If you see a catch basin clogged with leaves and debris, please call MSD Customer Relations at 502-540-6000 or send an email to CustomerRelations@LouisvilleMSD.org.
