Storm Drain Pollution

The City of Bradbury’s storm drain system was designed to prevent flooding by transporting rainwater from city streets. Since the storm drain system contains no filter, untreated storm water is released into various water bodies. Storm water pollution occurs when untreated contaminated water (urban runoff) drains from city streets into the beaches, lakes and rivers.

No, the storm drain system is separate from the sewer system. There is a fundamental difference between the two. A storm drain system is designed to handle excess rainwater from City streets, whereas a sewer system is designed to transport wastewater to a treatment facility. Unlike the sewer system there is not treatment facility for the storm drain system. So whatever goes down the storm drain ends up in our beaches, lakes and rivers.

Did you know that the largest source of storm water pollution is residents? Through the conduct of daily activities, the general public releases various pollutants into the storm drain. Urban runoff is the largest source of unregulated pollution to the waterways and coastal areas of the United States. The most common pollutants released into storm drains are:

• Fuel and motor oil leaking from cars
• Household cleaning products
• Improperly disposed paint and paint thinners
• Paper, cups, and other litter
• Yard waste and fertilizers
• Animal waste left from household pets

To prevent storm water pollution follow these simple tips:

1. Report illegal dumping into the storm drain. When you observe someone pouring HHW or any non-water items down the storm drain please call Los Angeles County Department of Public Works at 1-800-303-0003.
2. Never pour household hazardous waste materials down the drain, onto sidewalks or into catch basins. Take these materials to a hazardous waste materials collection center or round-up event. For the next Household Hazardous Waste Round-up click on to http://ladpw.org/epd/hhw/schedule.cfm
3. Use pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers according to the label instructions. Remember not to apply them before rain and avoid over watering your plants or lawn.
4. When walking your pets, remember to bring extra bags to pick up your animal's waste and dispose of it properly.
5. Never put motor oil in the trash or pour it on the ground or down a storm drain. For more information on used motor oil or filter recycling click on to the Used Oil and Filter Recycling link.
6. If you're using latex-water based paints, you can wash your paint brushes directly in your kitchen or bathroom sink. Don't rinse your brushes into the street. If you use oil-based paints, clean them by rinsing brushes with solvent in a container. Take the unused liquid and residue to a HHW collection event. For a listing of HHW events click on to http://www.ladpw.org/epd/hhw/schedule.cfm
7. You can also purchase fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides that are not harmful to the environment when they're washed down the storm drain system. Call the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works at 1-800-303-0003 for more information on storm drain pollution prevention or to report illegal dumping.