| |
San José's
Creeks and Rivers
Keep Pool, Spa, and Fountain Water Out of Storm Drains, Creeks, and
the Bay
Did You Know...
- Copper is a pollutant that threatens aquatic life in our creeks
and the Bay. It is used as an algaecide in pools, spas, and fountains,
and copper pipes are commonly used in pool plumbing.
- Draining pools, spas and fountains to storm drains can pollute
creeks with copper, chlorine, sediments, and other contaminants.
- Storm drains flow directly into our creeks and the Bay without
wastewater treatment.
- A properly maintained pool, spa, and fountain will reduce the
need for draining.
Maintaining Your Pool, Spa or Fountain...
- Minimize algae buildup to prevent the need for toxic algaecides
- Clean regularly, maintain proper chlorine levels, and maintain
water filtration and circulation.
- Manage pH and water hardness to minimize copper pipe corrosion
that can stain your pool and end up in our creeks and the Bay.
- Ask your pool maintenance service for help resolving persistent
algae problems without using copper algaecides.
Cleaning...
- Never clean a filter in the street, gutter, or storm drain.
- Rinse cartridge filters onto a dirt area and spade filter residue
into the soil.
- Keep backwash discharges out of the street and storm drain.
Backwash sand and diatomaceous earth filters onto a dirt area.
Dispose of spent filter materials in the trash.
- If you don't have a suitable dirt area, call Environmental
Services at (408) 945-3000 for guidance.
Draining...
- Don't drain to a street, gutter, or storm drain.
- Discharge water to a sanitary sewer clean-out. See Tips
for Finding Your Clean-out.
- If you are on a septic system or have no sanitary sewer clean-out,
contact your local wastewater treatment authority.
Tips for Finding Your Clean-out:*
- If your kitchen or bathroom is on an exterior wall of your
house, look outside along that wall for a clean-out.
- Stand on the sidewalk looking toward your house. Line up the
main water sources in your house: bathrooms, kitchen, washers,
etc. The clean-out is often located on that line, in front of
or behind your house.
- Look for an "S" carved on the curb near your house.
It marks where the sewer line is. Your clean-out may be along
it.
- Look on your property for a small concrete or metal cover marked
"sewer." Clean-outs are often located under them.
- Look for a small circular cap on a pipe, with a raised square
on it, sticking out of your house or out of the ground. These
caps often cover clean-outs.
- Look for a slight linear depression in your yard between your
house and the street. They often are remnants of sewer line installation,
and your clean-out may be on it.
- If you still can't find your clean-out, contact your local
wastewater treatment authority.
*Not all cities use the same methods to mark
their sewer systems, so some of these tips may not work for you.
For more information on how to protect our creeks
and the Bay, call 1-866-WATERSHED or visit the Watershed
Watch website.
For more information about
draining water or locating clean-outs:
In East Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos
Hills, Mountain View, Palo Alto, and Stanford,
call the Regional Water Quality Control Plant at 650-329-2598.
In Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Milpitas,
Monte Sereno, San Jose, Saratoga, and Santa Clara, call
Environmental Services at 408-945-3000.
In Sunnyvale, call the Sunnyvale
Water Pollution Control Plant at 408-730-7260. |
|
Report Storm Drain Dumping |
Call
(408) 945-3000
Or use the online form to report illegal dumping to the storm drain. |
|
