Who to contact
TOURS: 650-329-2396
PERMITS: 650-329-2122
Report hazardous spills, illegal dumping, storm drain blockages, sanitary sewer backups or overflows in your community.
Not finding what you need?
Call the City of Palo Alto Public Works - Watershed Protection at
650-329-2122 or email cleanbay@cityofpaloalto.org.
Play
See how the RWQCP treats 20 million gallons of wastewater every day to protect San Francisco Bay.
Splash!
Check Out These Upcoming Events
Palo Alto Baylands Lunchtime Walk- Where Does Your Water Go?
Meet at the parking lot by the ranger station picnic area (2500 Embarcadero Road) for an easy one-hour guided Baylands walk led by a Palo Alto Park Ranger. Learn about the history and importance of the Palo Alto Baylands ecosystem and see where the Bay receives wastewater from homes and businesses after it’s been cleaned and treated by the Regional Water Quality Control Plant. See website for details of Baylands Nature Preserve and directions.
Date: Thursday, September 21
Time: 12pm to 1pm
Location: 2500 Embarcadero Rd, Palo Alto
Cost: Free
Register by emailing open.space@cityofpaloalto.org with the subject line “Pollution Prevention”. Space is limited, sign up now!
Visit the EcoCenter in the Palo Alto Baylands!
Enjoy fun games and activities, learn how salt marshes help filter pollution and learn what you can do at home to protect our creeks and San Francisco Bay. Guests can also take a self-guided tour of the EcoCenter to learn about the new sustainable features of this historic building. All ages welcome! No reservations required.
Date: Friday, September 22
Time: 11am - 1:30pm
Location: 2560 Embarcadero Rd, Palo Alto (see EcoCenter website for map and directions)
Cost: Free event, donations accepted
To learn more about the EcoCenter and their other programs, visit www.evols.org
Get the Scoop on Poop!
Take a guided tour of the Regional Water Quality Control Plant to see how 99% of the biological pollutants are removed from 20 million gallons of our region’s wastewater every day. Can’t make the tour? Watch our short video to see how it works. Protective clothing is required for guided tours including closed-toe shoes, long pants, no midriffs. Minimum age 11 years old. This is a moderately strenuous tour which includes many stairs.
Date: Saturday, September 23rd
Time: 10am - 11:30am
Location: 2501 Embarcadero Way, Palo Alto
Cost: Free
Register by calling 650.329.2396 or email cleanbay@cityofpaloalto.org. Other tour dates and times available upon request.
MAP & Directions
To the City of Palo Alto Regional Water Quality Control Plant and the Household Hazardous Waste Station.
Our Programs
What's the latest
Pollution Prevention Week is Coming this September
Check out these fun events and activities that celebrate our environment!
Fall 2017 Green Gardener Training
Expand your business using green gardening techniques! Receive a certificate of completion and free publicity upon completion.
ReThink Disposable: FREE program for food businesses to save money and reduce waste and increase efficiency!
Learn more on how your business can participate.
Kicking cigarette pollution in the butt.
Palo Alto takes new steps to reduce cigarette butt pollution and improve public health.
Recreational Vehicle (RV) Sewage Disposal
Find a disposal site near you.
Quick Information
» Report hazardous spills, illegal dumping, storm drain blockages, sanitary sewer backups or overflows in your community
» About the Regional Water Quality Control Plant
» Smoking ordinance changes
WHAT IS THE REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL PLANT?
The Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP) protects San Francisco Bay by treating wastewater from its service area and works with residents, industry and businesses to prevent pollution before it starts. The RWQCP is owned and operated by the City of Palo Alto and serves its partner communities of the East Palo Alto Sanitary District, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Palo Alto, and Stanford University.
Check out the two art pieces that Artist Martin Webb created for the RWQCP!
Stormwater
Stormwater is defined by the US EPA as the runoff generated when precipitation from rain or snowmelt events flows over land or impervious surfaces without infiltrating into the ground.
In natural systems— when rainwater falls onto the ground, it infiltrates into the soil where it is then stored in underground aquifers. However, urban areas today have many paved surfaces, such as streets, parking lots and building rooftops, that prevent this infiltration and causes runoff. The runoff picks up pollutants along these paved surfaces as it flows into storm drains, which directs them into creeks and the San Francisco Bay. Storm drains are separate systems from sanitary sewers and flow into our watershed without any treatment. There are four primary watersheds in Palo Alto (San Francisquito, Matadero, Barron, and Adobe). See a map of storm drain watersheds within the City of Palo Alto.
During heavy rainfall, excess runoff causes flooding to occur. Learn more about the City’s Stormwater Management Fee for flood protection, creek maintenance and more services. Want to learn more on how you can live in a creek friendly neighborhood? Get tips on green storm water features like rain gardens and rain barrels. Visit Green Streets for more information. Rebates are also available for installing rain barrels, permeable pavement, rain catchment cisterns, and green roofs. These beautiful and practical home improvements filter pollution and reduce stormwater runoff.
SMOKING ORDINANCE CHANGE
The City of Palo Alto recently took additional steps to protect public health and reduce litter by expanding the City's Smoking Ordinance. The revised ordinance prohibits smoking in multi-family housing (inside, common areas and buffer areas or sidewalks) and places restrictions on the sale of tobacco products. Smoking restrictions remain for outdoor commercial areas, outdoor dining areas, public events, work sites and service locations.
NEW POLYSTYRENE ORDINANCE
On March 1, 2016 revisions to a 2009 City of Palo Alto ordinance went into effect to further reduce litter from expanded plastic foam products (e.g., Styrofoam™). The ordinance prohibits both the retail sale and distribution of plastic foam ice chests, egg cartons, packaging materials and foodware. This measure is one of several to reduce litter in creeks, streets, and the Bay. Learn more.
