Drains
Drain Maintenance
The Water Resources Commissioner and staff are responsible for the construction, operation, and maintenance of more than 1,000 storm water management systems—referred to as “County Drains”—throughout Ottawa County. These systems are designed to manage storm water, provide drainage, prevent flooding, and protect streams across both urban and agricultural areas.
A County Drain may take the form of an open ditch, stream, underground pipe, retention pond, or swale that conveys storm water. When well-maintained, these drains do more than move water—they help prevent flooding, protect water quality, and preserve natural waterways. They also reduce standing water that can attract pests, support productive farmland, and safeguard nearby roads and bridges.
Use the sliders below to see the difference routine maintenance makes!
Drain Notices
Browse our archive of drain maintentance and petetion project notices.
No.4 & 43 Drain After
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No. 34 Drain
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Herbicides Used During Weed Spraying
Project Funding
Routine maintenance of County Drains is necessary from time to time to ensure their proper function. The Water Resources Commissioner may in any one year, expend up to $10,000.00 per mile, per drain for maintenance and repair. Major projects are initiated through a petition process. Either property owners or a local municipality can petition the Water Resources Commissioner. To recover costs expended for a project, Special Assessments are levied against private properties, local municipalities, the County and the County Road Commission, railroads and state highways benefited by the construction and/or maintenance.