Storm Water Management
What is Storm Water?                                                                     

Storm water is the water that flows through gutters and into storm drains when it rains. During dry weather, water also flows into gutters and storm drains as a result of pavement washing, runoff from excess lawn irrigation, residential car washing, and other activities.  Unlike the wastewater that flows through the sanitary sewer system to the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District treatment facility, water that flows through the storm drain system is not treated. It is released directly to local waterways.

Rain water and dry-weather runoff pick up many kinds of pollutants as the water flows across pavement and landscaped areas and carries them into the storm water system and then to waterways. Trash, yard clipping debris, and other solid waste materials left in streets and gutters are also carried into the storm drain system.  Because of these factors, urban runoff (also called nonpoint source pollution) remains the nation's largest source of water quality problems, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

Check out our storm water pollution prevention guide to learn how you can help keep our waterways clean!

Clean Water Act Compliance

The City's storm water system discharges must comply with requirements of the federal Clean Water Act.  The state of California administers these requirements through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit process.  The City's blueprint for permit compliance is its state-approved Storm Water Management Plan, which includes measures to help reduce the potential for pollutants to enter the storm drain system.  Each year, the City must report to the state its progress in implementing these measures.  Click on the links below for the city's most recent annual reports.