City of Riverbank, CA: Our Community

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Archives 2006

Our Community

Did you know?

About water…

Do you know where the storm water goes when it rains? How about the run-off from your lawn sprinklers? The City of Riverbank has a storm drain system throughout the City, and in the older areas of town that means the water runs down the gutter to an opening – the storm drain – and eventually it drains into the Stanislaus River. Newer residential and commercial areas have storm drain basins, some of which are large bowl-shaped parks in the summer and ponds in the winter. Examples would be the new parks in Riverbank Crossroads – Silva Park, Rotary Park, and soon, Sorensen Park and the older parks – Castleberg and Safreno; these parks are all landscaped for residents’ use during the spring, summer, and fall and they act as storm drain basins in the winter. Water in the storm drain basins is removed by pumps to either a MID canal or to the storm drain system, and eventually it makes its way to the River.

It is important to remember that storm drain water is not treated before it runs in to the River. That means that not only the extra run-off from your lawn sprinklers is in the storm drain, but that soapy water from washing your car in the driveway is there as well. Did you change your car oil or drain your radiator in the street? {Which by the way is illegal see Riverbank City Code (RCC) §71.18(A)} Did some of that oil or radiator fluid get into the gutter? Did you clean it up with paper towels and/or kitty litter, or did you hose it down? Remember, if it makes it to the storm drain, it will eventually make it to the River. That not only means that motor oil or radiator fluid you changed, but that Styrofoam cup, Snickers bar wrapper, and that plastic grocery bag that blew in to the street.

It is our duty as residents to help keep our City looking nice. When doing your yard work, take the extra time to sweep up the grass clippings and leaves and either throw them in your mulch pile or dispose of them in your grey toter. Don’t blow them in to the street or hose them down the sidewalk to the gutter, you don’t want them clogging up the storm drain. If your storm drain backs up during a heavy rain due to an overabundance of leaves, grass clippings, or trash, your street may flood. Try to keep your gutters and storm drain openings clear!

Do you know what your watering schedule is? The City Code states that no outdoor water use is allowed between 12:00 p.m. (noon) and 7:00 p.m.; and water days are Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for odd-numbered addresses; water days for even-numbered addresses are Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; anyone may water on Sundays subject to the time restrictions set above. {RCC §52.34 (B) (1-4)} Water usage not only means watering your lawn or flowerbed, it also means washing your car.

Water is one of our most precious resources and it is up to us as citizens of not only Riverbank, but of the State of California, to take precautions to preserve this commodity. Allowing water to freely flow from your hose is an example of wastefulness. Over-watering your lawn so that water runs over the sidewalk is another example of wastefulness. Keep a quick-acting positive shut-off nozzle on your hoses and if your lawn sprinklers are on a timer, set the timer so it only waters the lawn on the correct day and during the correct times. Did you know your lawn doesn’t need 20 minutes of watering? You should be able to keep your lawn beautifully green by watering 3 times a week for 5 to 8 minutes. Just like mowing, keeping a regular fertilizing schedule will benefit your lawn, too.

Do you see water wasters in your neighborhood? You can report water wasters and remain anonymous by calling 869-7109 and leave a message like, “water running across sidewalk at 0000 Blank Street” or “watering lawn at 3:00 p.m. every day at 000 Blank Avenue”. No need to speak with a person, an answering machine takes all calls. No need to leave your name or phone number, we are only interested in the address of the water waster and how they are wasting the water.

About Sam Jackson Riverbank Spring Clean 2006 – join us April 1^st…

Have you heard of Spring Clean? Spring Clean is Riverbank’s annual City clean-up time; City staff and volunteers get together one Saturday morning in April to clean up the town. We pick up trash along roadways and alleys; plant bulbs and flowers in flowerbeds, and trees in parks; paint over graffiti or repaint park restrooms; and last year volunteers painted a “paint-by-number” mural at the Plaza del Rio at the northeast corner of Third and Santa Fe Streets. Would you like to join us? Click here for more information about this year’s Sam Jackson Riverbank Spring Clean.

What’s up next?

There are a lot of changes going on in Riverbank! On the north side, Jacob Myers Park is expanding; residents and visitors will be able to enjoy more picnic areas and more river frontage. On the south side, Crossroads Shopping Center will see more stores coming to fill in those empty areas around the parking lot! A few great names so far include – Round Table Pizza, Juice It Up, Great Clips, Radio Shack, and GNC Live Well; and for your banking needs, expect financial services from Wells Fargo and County Banks!

Earlier Did you know? columns can be located in the Archives.