Stormwater Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why are we stenciling
the curbs and gutters with a message?
A. Storm drain stenciling is a great way to remind people that
storm drains are for clean rain water only. It’s a visual
reminder that pollution prevention is important. It also provides
a phone number to call to report violations, allowing the City to
stop violations as quickly as possible.
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Q. Where does the storm drain
go?
A. Water that flows down driveways and streets into a gutter goes
into a storm drain which flows directly to a creek, and then to
the South Bay.
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Q. What is the purpose
of the storm drain system?
A. Its purpose is to prevent flooding of streets and highways by
quickly and efficiently transferring rain water into creeks, and
eventually the South San Francisco Bay.
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Q. Are there any charges
or fees associated with the storm drain system?
A. There are two types of storm drain system fees: the Storm
Drainage Connection Fee and the Storm
Sewer Service Charge.
The Storm Drainage Connection Fee is essentially
a one time fee that is assessed when a piece of property
is first developed and is based on the type of usage planned for
the property. If the property is subsequently redeveloped to a significantly
different usage, an additional fee may be assessed. Storm Drainage
Connection Fees are calculated and collected by the Department of
Public Works.
The Storm Sewer Service Charge is an annual fee paid by owners of
residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional properties
and is based on the relative quality and quantity of storm water
runoff contributed to the storm drain system by their properties.
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Q. How do I pay the annual
Storm Sewer Service Charge for my property?
A. For most properties, the Storm Sewer Service Charge is placed
on the annual property tax roll and collected by the Santa Clara
County Tax Collector’s Office.
Q. Why do I have to pay an
annual Storm Sewer Service Charge?
A. The annual Storm Sewer Service Charge pays for the operation,
maintenance, and improvement of the storm drain system, which includes
the pipelines that convey rainfall away from your property as well
as associated pump stations and outfalls into the creeks. It also
supports environmental protection programs required to meet federal
and state water quality permits for protection of the South San
Francisco Bay and local streams.
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Q. What's the difference
between putting water down the storm drain and putting water down
the toilet or sink?
A. The sanitary sewer (toilets and sinks) and storm drain system
are two completely different systems. The water that goes down sinks
or toilets in homes or businesses flows to the San Jose/Santa Clara
Water Pollution Control Plant, where it is treated before its release
into the South Bay. Water that flows down driveways
and streets into a gutter goes into a storm drain that flows
directly into a creek, and then into the South Bay. This water picks
up pollutants along the way and does not receive any treatment to
remove pollutants.
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Q. What can you put down
the storm drain?
A. Local ordinances prohibit anything other than uncontaminated
rain water from entering the storm drain system. Never pour anything
into a gutter, street or storm drain.
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Q. Who fixes clogged storm
drains?
A. The Department
of Transportation at (408) 277-4373.
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Q. Why shouldn't
yard trimmings and soil go into the storm drain? Doesn't rain wash
the same kind of material into the creek anyway?
A. When natural materials, such as yard
trimmings, break down, oxygen is drawn from the water. In a
natural setting the amount of this debris would be limited to the
leaves of those plants and trees bordering creeks. However, in our
urban setting, leaves and dirt on paved areas throughout the entire
City are washed into creeks. A lot of natural debris can ruin the
natural balance of the creeks, and harm fish.
In addition, pesticides, oil leaked
onto roads and driveways, and other pollutants are scoured from
all the paved surfaces throughout our City and washed directly into
our creeks and ultimately the South Bay.
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Q. Why isn't storm water
treated before it goes into the creek?
A. Each storm drain goes to the nearest creek outfall. As a result,
storm water is not collected into one location where it can be cleaned.
Instead, it flows through hundreds of separate pipe systems, each
emptying into the nearest creek. Preventing pollution at the source
is a much more effective and less costly way to prevent storm water
pollution.
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Q. What do I do
if I see someone dumping something other than rain water down a
storm drain?
A. Call the number on the curb! (408) 945-3000.
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Q. If I leave a complaint,
will my name and address be kept confidential?
A. Yes! State Penal Codes allow us to keep the complainant's name
confidential, even through “freedom of information act”
requests.
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If you have questions about the City of San José's Storm
Drain Stenciling Project or if you would like to learn more about
ways you can improve the quality of the water in your neighborhood
creeks and the South San Francisco Bay, please call (408) 945-3000. |
