Public Works Storm Water Division
David Melilli
Public Works Director
Contact
Information
Storm Water Division
The Storm Water Division maintains and repairs the
City’s
storm drainage system including storm drains and catch basins.
Storm Drain
Pollution
Even though you may live miles from the San Joaquin Delta
or the San Francisco Bay, you may be polluting those waters
without knowing it. When you pour motor oil, antifreeze, paint,
fertilizer, pesticides, trash, and/or household chemicals in to
the gutter, it flows in to the groundwater and eventually in to
the Delta and the Bay.
Dumping just one quart of motor oil in to a storm drain can
pollute 250,000 gallons of water and kill or sicken thousands of
fish, birds, and other animals.
Other items thrown in to the storm drains like disposable
cups, plastic water bottles, ice cream wrappers and sticks, also
cause potential problems by clogging storm drain lines which in
turn back up in to the streets causing flooding. Never use a
storm drain as a garbage can! It is designed for rain water
run-off and flows from your neighborhood to the Stanislaus River
on the north side of Riverbank.
Please treat household
hazardous wastes responsibly; take advantage of recycling
opportunities. Never pour motor oil on the ground, on the
driveway, or into the gutters and storm drains. Leftover soapy
carwash water should be poured in the toilet or sink; or wash
your car over your lawn as the soapy water won’t harm the
grass. Rinse paintbrushes in the sink, this water travels
through the sewer pipes to the Wastewater Treatment Plant, where
the water runs through a series of treatments and aeration ponds
before being returned to the River. Sweep your driveway and
walkways instead of hosing them down with water.
Helping to keep our rivers and streams healthy, helps keep
the Delta and Bay healthy, too!
Storm Water
Pollution Solutions
Did you know a sewer system and a storm drain system are
not the same? These two systems are completely different. The
water that goes down the sink or toilet in your home or business
flows to the Wastewater Treatment Plant where it is treated and
filtered. Water that flows down driveways and streets in to a
gutter leading directly to a nearby river, lake, or to the
underground water table is a storm drain system. This water may
pick up pollutants along the way that are never treated.
Keeping the storm drains clean and free from hazardous
contamination such as motor oil, paints, pet waste, and
pesticides is critical.
Share this knowledge with others:
· Monitor
your storm drain and remove any debris that may clog it such as
leaves and grass clippings.
·
Don’t dump waste in storm drains.
· Recycle
used oil. Call Kragen’s Auto Parts at 869-0650, where you can
recycle up to 5-gallons of used motor oil at a time.
· Sweep
driveways clean and remove spills with absorbent material –
Don’t hose it off!
· Dispose
of household chemicals properly. Follow the directions on the
package or call Hazardous Waste at 525-4123.
·
Don’t over water or allow garden pesticides to wash into the
street.
If you have more questions, please call the Public Works
Department at 869-7128.
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