What is Stormwater Runoff?

Stormwater runoff is generated when precipitation from rain events flows over land or impervious surfaces and does not percolate into the ground.

Why Should You Care?

Runoff from our rooftops, parking lots, streets, and parks all discharges into the City’s storm drains. These storm drains are connected to our local waterways. That means pollutants such as litter, fertilizers, sediment, animal waste, and oil and grease can be picked up by runoff and washed into our creeks, and eventually the San Francisco Bay. That’s not only harmful to those critters that depend on our waterways, it also has the potential to impact public health and diminish local recreational opportunities.

What Is the City Doing?

The State of California has issued a Municipal Regional Stormwater Permit to municipalities and flood control districts in the Bay Area to regulate stormwater discharges. The City implements best management practices (BMPs) to control and reduce pollutant discharges into our storm drains during municipal operations such as road repairs and sidewalk maintenance.

In addition, the City does the following:

• Inspects industrial and commercial sites likely to contribute to pollution of stormwater runoff
• Regulates new developments/redevelopments for effective stormwater controls
• Requires the implementation of sediment and other pollutant controls for construction projects
• Responds to illicit discharges
• Minimize trash getting to our waterways through active street sweeping, storm drain maintenance, and the deployment of trash capture devices.

Stream Maintenance for Water Conveyance

Maintenance of stream sections and stormwater detention ponds is necessary to ensure proper water flow through streams and reduce the risk of flooding. The City of Pleasanton conducted an environmental review to assess the potential impacts of implementing Pleasanton's annual maintenance activities of specific stream segments and stormwater detention ponds throughout the City of Pleasanton to improve water conveyance and quality. The 30-day public comment period for the Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Pleasanton Stream Maintenance Project (Draft IS/MND) closed on August 11, 2020. The City has posted an updated Notice of Intent to Adopt the Draft IS/MND. Pursuant to Title 14 C.C.R. 15074(f) and PMC 9.14, the Director of Operations and Water Utilities will administratively consider the IS/MND and Project. Questions with regards to Pleasanton's Stream Maintenance Project can be sent via email to rdicandia@cityofpleasantonca.gov.

What You Can Do to Take Care of Our Water Ways

• Wash your car at a commercial car wash.
• Keep your outdoor trash/waste containers closed.
• Clean up spills immediately with dry methods. Never hose spills down the storm drain!
• Check for and comply with the City’s stormwater requirements if you have a project that will create or replace 2,500 ft² or more of impervious surface.
• Regularly maintain stormwater treatment measures on your property. (If you have a maintenance agreement with the City, download the annual report form and inspection checklists here.)
• Pick up your pet’s waste.
• Report illicit discharges to the City at (925) 931-5500 or osd@cityofpleasantonca.gov.
• Volunteer at local creek cleanup events!

Don'ts

• Discharge anything but rainwater down the storm drain.
• Dump paint or wash paint brushes down a storm drain.
• Wash kitchen mats outside.
• Scrub down trash containers with detergents and wash them into alley or street gutter.
• Litter.

Pleasanton is part of the Alameda Countywide Clean Water Program. To help assist businesses and residents in Alameda County, ACCWP has a wide variety of resources available to the public.

Contact Scott Walker at swalker@cityofpleasantonca.gov if you have any questions regarding the Clean Water Program.