- Q. Is there a difference between the storm drain and sewer system?
- A. Yes…an important difference. Stormwater and all the pollutants that flow from our homes, parking lots and streets to the gutter into the storm drains discharge directly into our creeks and other water bodies…untreated. Water and pollutants that flow into the sanitary sewer, such as water from our bathtubs and toilet, are sent to wastewater treatment facility before the water is discharged to the Bay, Delta or ocean.
- Q. What is a watershed and how do I affect it?
- A. A watershed is an area of land that catches and drains water into a creek, stream or river via direct runoff or smaller tributaries and eventually ends up in a large body of water such as the Delta, Bay or ocean. As stormwater flows over land and across the watershed into the creek, it carries polluted urban runoff such as used motor oil and grease, pesticides, trash and other harmful debris. This is where the public comes in. The more we can prevent polluting the watershed, the healthier our waterways will be and the habitat it supports.
- Q. What is E-waste?
- A. E-waste is a popular term for electronic products nearing the end of their “useful life.” Products such as computers, computer monitors, televisions, VCRs, stereos, microwaves, and fax machines are common electronic goods. Many of these products can be reused or recycled.Unfortunately, electronic discards are one of the fastest growing segments of our nation’s waste stream. When we improperly dispose of e-waste, the mercury or the lead from the cathode ray tubes leaches into surface and groundwater. Computer monitors and televisions are banned from disposal in landfills due to the high amounts of lead they contain.
- Q. How do I properly dispose of E-waste?
- A. Some cities allow residents to bring it to a household hazardous waste facility or drop-off event. View a listing of e-waste recycling facilities/services online or call the County Recycling Hotline at 1-800-750-4096 for information about local e-waste recycling options. You may also want to check out the EPA eCYCLING page.
- Q. How do I dispose of my mercury thermometers?
- A. Anything containing mercury is considered a household hazardous waste. It can be found in products such as thermometers, fluorescent lighting and watch batteries. You can dispose of mercury at household hazardous waste facilities near you.
East County: 2500 Pittsburg Antioch Highway, Antioch, CA (925) 756-1900
Central County: 4797 Imhoff Place, Martinez, CA (800) 646-1431
West County: 101 Pittsburg Ave, San Pablo, CA, (888) 412-9277 - Q. The creek near my house is polluted. What can be done about it?
- A. You can be proactive and inform your neighbors of proper pollution prevention behaviors. You can also start a creek group and promote water health. If there is a toxic spill call 911 and trained firefighters will either clean up the pollution or contact the proper agency, depending on the nature of the pollutant. For the proper number to call for your area, call 1-800-NO DUMPING to be connected.
- Q. Why should I recycle used motor oil?
- A. Recycling the motor oil from your car, truck, motorcycle, boat, RV or lawnmower is one way that you can demonstrate your commitment to protect the environment for future generations while conserving energy resources. Used motor oil contains heavy metals and other harmful contaminates that negatively impact the environment. In the U.S. approximately 42 million gallons a year of used motor oil are poured down drains, sewers or on the ground, and 52 million gallons are disposed in the trash by people who change their own oil. Compare this to the 10 million gallons spilled by the Exxon Valdez in Alaska in 1989, or the 150 million gallons spilled in the Persian Gulf in 1991.
Some communities offer curbside used oil and filter recycling collection programs and certified used oil recycling centers will pay $.16 cents per gallon. View a listing of used motor oil and filter recycling options or call the County Recycling Hotline at 1-800-750-4096.
- Q. There’s oil in the street in front of my house. What should I do about it?
- A. If you can’t determine who is responsible for the pollution, sprinkle it with kitty litter, sweep up the soiled absorbent and place it in a household hazardous waste container for disposal at a HHW facility near you.
- Q. Can I drain my pool into the storm drain?
- A. Only if the water is dechlorinated and has never been treated with copper-based algaecides. For details see our Pool and Spa Brouchure.
- Q. Leaves and yard clippings are organic. Why can’t I put them down the storm drain?
- A. When organic and/or yard waste decays in water, the “breakdown” process removes oxygen from the water that is necessary for the health of all aquatic species from microorganisms to fish. Essentially, it robs the aquatic life of oxygen and suffocates them.
Yard debris can be recycled through curbside collection programs throughout the County, can be composted at home to help your garden, or can be dropped off at various facilities in the County. View a listing of organics recycling facilities/services or composting workshop schedules. Alternatively, you can call the County Recycling Hotline at 1-800-750-4096 for information about composting or local organics recycling options.
- Q. If I can’t dump left over chemicals into the sanitary sewer, what can I do with them?
- A. Take them to your local household hazardous waste facility.
East County: 2500 Pittsburg Antioch Highway, Antioch, CA (925) 756-1900
Central County: 4797 Imhoff Place, Martinez, CA (800) 646-1431
West County: 101 Pittsburg Ave, San Pablo, CA, (888) 412-9277 - Q. Why shouldn’t I wash my car at home, I use biodegradable soap?
- A. When washing cars, the water runoff can enter the storm drains. This puts pollutants such as grease, dirt, oil, metals and soap to our local creeks. Even biodegradable soaps require oxygen to breakdown, depleting our creek of the oxygen fish and other organisms need to survive. Also, just because the soap breaks down, doesn’t mean it breaks down into components that should be in the water. It is best to take your car to a car wash where the water is discharged to the sanitary sewer system or wash your car on a lawn or other surface where the water can be drained down and filtered through the soil.
- Q. It’s ok to rinse my paint supplies out in the gutter, right?
- A. No. It is not OK. All paint equipment needs to be cleaned in a sink that is plumbed to sanitary sewer. Any sink in your house should do. Also, water based paints can be dried out and put in the garbage. But, oil-based paints should be disposed of at a household hazardous waste site.
- Q. What am I supposed to do with my dirty mop water; I don’t want to dump it in my clean sink.
- A. If something is too dirty or “gross” for you to want to dump it in a sink in your home, it is definitely not acceptable for the storm drain. The water should go into the sink or pour in onto your yard or dirt to soak into the ground. Remember, only rain down the storm drain!