STORM WATER OUTREACH

As storm water flows through yards, gutters and streets it picks up oil, sediments, litter, garden chemicals and other materials.  All outside drains are part of the storm drain system (street gutters, inlets, and pipes) which carry flows directly to the nearest creek.  These flows are not treated to remove pollutants like the sanitary sewer system does with waste water from our homes and work facilities.  Anything in runoff besides rainwater is a pollutant and its sources are many and varied. It can be smog from the air, leaking cars, dumped mop water, paint brushes cleaned in the gutter, driveways cleaned with chemicals, not picking up pet waste, litter tossed on the ground, pesticides-herbicides-fertilizers applied to our yards, excess new concrete hosed down into the gutter, and much more.

It is easier and cheaper to prevent pollutants from getting into storm water runoff rather than trying to clean it out of a creek.  Pollution can be prevented by following basic good housekeeping practices also called Best Management Practices (BMPs).

Click on the sidebar links to the left for BMPs on specific activities in the Home or at Work.

In addition to providing information on BMPs the City also installs decals on catch basins in the roadway, has an information table at a number of local events, supports the Sonoma County Regional Parks program at the Environmental Discovery Center, produces colorful information brochures, supports a point of purchase program in local hardware stores about using non-toxic and less toxic products for home and garden,and participates in eliminating illicit discharges to the storm drain system.

Previous outreach examples can be seen below and to the right:

Theater slides examples: