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Stormwater Division
ONLY RAIN DOWN THE STROM DRAIN
Water that flows off our yards, streets, parking lots and driveways into storm drains eventually ends up in local rivers.
The storm drain system and sanitary sewer system are completely separate. Our storm drains transport runoff untreated water to local rivers.
As water makes its way to storm catch basins, it picks up and carries pollutants found on streets, sidewalks, gutters, driveways, yards and parking lots.
Help us reduce pollution in our local rivers by doing the following:
- Comply with the City of Riverbank Landscape Watering Schedule.
- Don't overuse fertilizers or pesticides.
- Pick up your pet's waste.
- Sweep up yard debris into green/gray container.
- Report any illegal dumping at (209) 863-7190
The Stormwater Division maintains and repairs the City's storm drainage system including storm drains and catch basins.
What Pollutes the Stormwater System?
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. Dumping just 1 quart of motor oil into a storm drain can pollute 250,000 gallons of water and kill or sicken thousands of fish, birds, and other animals. Do not pour the following into the gutter:
- Motor Oil
- Antifreeze
- Pesticides
- Fertilizer
- Household chemicals
- Paint
- Irrigation runoff
- Pet waste
- Dirt piles on streets/driveways
- Yard clippings, leaves and green waste
- Trash
Stormwater System vs Sewer System
Did you know a sewer system and a storm drain system are not the same? These two systems are completely different:
Sewer System – 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.
Stormwater Water System – Water that flows down driveways and streets flows into a gutter leading directly to a nearby river, lake, or to the underground water table that 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 contamination such as motor oil, paints, pet waste, and pesticides is critical.
More Useful Tips on Stormwater:
- Items thrown into 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.
- Never pour motor oil on the ground, on the driveway, or into the gutters and storm drains.
- Leftover soapy car wash water should be poured in the toilet or sink. Instead, 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.
- Monitor your storm drain and remove any debris that may clog it, such as leaves and grass clippings.
- Don't over water or allow garden pesticides to wash into the street.
- Sweep driveways clean and remove spills with absorbent material - don't hose it off.
- Recycle Used Oil. For additional locations call 1-800-CleanUp or go to Earth911.com.
- Dispose of household chemicals properly. Follow the directions on the package or view the Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Guide operated by Stanislaus County Department of Environmental Resources.
Helping to keep our rivers and streams healthy, helps keep the Delta and Bay healthy, too
Best Management Practices (BMP's) & Outreach Material
- Riverbank Stormwater BMPs Brochure - Landscape
- Riverbank Stormwater BMPs Brochure - Home Repair
- Riverbank Stormwater BMPs Brochure - Construction
- Riverbank Stormwater BMPs Brochure - Automotive
- Riverbank Stormwater BMPs Brochure - Pet Waste
- Stormwater Flyer
Report Stormwater Issues!
To report a clogged storm drain or a spill please report this to the Public Works Department by calling (209) 869-7128.
To report any illegal dumping, discharges or trash, it should be reported immediately to the Neighborhood Improvement Complaint Line at (209) 863-7190.
Learn More
For more information about stormwater go to:
- City of Riverbank Stormwater Ordinance Chapter 53: Stormwater Management and Discharge Control
- State Water Resources Control Board - www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/stormwater
- United States Environmental Protection Agency - https://www.epa.gov/npdes/npdes-stormwater-program
For more information about Landscape and Irrigations Practices go to:
- City of Riverbank Ordinance Chapter 157: Water Efficient Landscape and Irrigation
- Save Our Water: https://saveourwater.com/
- California Department of Water Resources, Water Efficient Landscaping: https://water.ca.gov/Water-Basics/Conservation-Tips/Plant-and-Landscape-Guide
- Be Water Wise: https://www.bewaterwise.com/
- USEPA Water Sense: https://www.epa.gov/watersense/landscaping-tips
For more information about Pest Control and Landscape Professionals go to:
- Our Water - Our World (OWOW):
- Solve Pest Problems with Less-Toxic Products: https://ourwaterourworld.org/#
- Our Water - Our World (OWOW):
- Finding a Company That Can Prevent Pest Problems: https://ourwaterourworld.org/hiring-a-pest-control-company/
- University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UCIPM):
- Hiring a Pest Control Company: http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74125.html
Freddy the Fish lives in the local Rivers. He wants to make you aware that water pollution can come from a lot of different places, but the number once reason that our rivers, creeks, lakes and streams get dirty is from the pollutants that the rain water picks up when it flows into the storm drains. A storm drain is the rectangle hole that you see by the curb on your street. Water that goes into the Strom Drain goes to our River.