Stormwater and wastewater eventually end up in the Bay. The water that comes out of your faucet is treated before it reaches your house and then enters the sanitary sewer system as wastewater. The wastewater that leaves your house is treated in a treatment plant before it is discharged to the San Francisco Bay. However, stormwater is not treated.

The City of Santa Clara needs to comply with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NDPES) permit requirements, which aim to minimize the amount or pollutants that get into our waterways via storm drains.

Stormwater

The stormdrain system consists of a network of pipes throughout the City of Santa Clara that convey surface water from the streets and gutters to the creeks. Since the stormdrain system is not connected to the sewer system and does not filter water or debris, any pollutant that flows into the storm drain ends up in our creeks, the San Francisco Bay and eventually the ocean. The City of Santa Clara has three ephemeral creeks (Calabazas Creek, Saratoga Creek and San Tomas Aquino Creek) and the Guadalupe River.

For this reason, only stormwater (rain) is allowed in the gutters and stormdrain system. The City of Santa Clara has a comprehensive program to prevent stormwater pollution which includes business inspections, public outreach, construction inspections, illegal dumping abatement, and maintenance of the creeks and stormdrain systems.

Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program (SCVRUPPP)

The City of Santa Clara is a member of the Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program, which is a countywide organization dedicated to maintaining a healthy environment for the Santa Clara Valley's creeks, rivers and the Bay. Please visit SCVURPPP.org for more information.

Reporting Violations

Nothing besides clean water may be dumped or allowed to flow into a storm drain. Common examples of illegal discharges include pesticides, wash waters, sewage, automotive fluids, paint, construction materials and wastes, sediment and/or silt, and food wastes.

To report an active illicit discharge (anything other than rain water going into a storm drain inlet), please call 408-615-3080. For after hours reporting, please call 408-615-5580. If there is a potential discharge, you may submit an online request. 

Storm Drain Rates (Effective July 2018 Billing Cycle)

View rates (PDF)

The City of Santa Clara needs to comply with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NDPES) permit requirements, which aim to minimize the amount or pollutants that get into our waterways via storm drains. To accomplish this, the City of Santa Clara takes the following measures:

• More frequent street sweeping in industrial zones
• Early sweeping schedule in industrial zones to avoid parked cars that limit access to the curbside
• Educational outreach
• Adoption of Single-Use Carryout Bag and Polystyrene Foam Food Service Ware Ordinances
• Installation of full trash capture devices in storm drain inlets 
• Support community litter abatement efforts through the Adopt-a-Spot Program

Water Conservation

Water conservation has become a way of life in the City of Santa Clara. For tips on how to reduce water use at home, visit the Water & Sewer Utilities Department's Water Conservation webpage.

Integrated Pest Management

All pest management operations at city-owned properties where landscape maintenance is provided utilizes Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques. Best management practices for pest prevention are used in order to limit the amount of chemical applications needed, as well as prohibit the use of certain types of chemicals. The least toxic solution shall be selected whenever possible. City-contracted pesticide applicators must acknowledge that they have been advised of the IPM policy and agree to abide by it.

Resources

• MyWatershedWatch.org - information on protecting our local watershed, including maps
• Bay Area Stormwater Management Agencies Association (BASMAA)
• Santa Clara Valley Water Pollution Hotline - If you see a substance polluting a creek, pond or reservoir, call 1-888-510-5151. The pollution hotline should be used to report the presence of hazardous and non-hazardous pollutants. 
• C.3 Data Form (fillable pdf)