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Report Spills/Illegal Dumping

Report Spills/Illegal Dumping

Nothing besides clean water may be allowed to flow into a storm drain.

Illegal discharges can include pesticides, pool water, wash water, sewage, automotive fluids, paint, construction materials, sediment, silt, and food wastes. Storm drains convey stormwater runoff from City streets and gutters directly to local creeks and San Francisco Bay without any treatment. Only rainwater and other clean water should go down a storm drain.

Call to report material in a storm drain:

  • When you see a person dumping anything into the storm drain. This activity is illegal.
  • When you notice unusual odors in or near the storm drain.
  • When you see dumped wastes and materials in or near the storm drain.
  • When the storm drain system has larger than normal flows during dry periods.

Biological and advanced treatment processes are used to clean wastewater and therefore the RWQCP restricts hazardous discharges to the sanitary sewer system. The sanitary sewer transports wastewater from inside residences (sinks, toilets, and baths) and businesses to the Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP) where it is cleaned before it is discharged into the Bay, or additionally treated for use as recycled water.

East Palo Alto Sanitary District

  • Sewer Back-Ups: (650) 325-9021
  • Storm Drains: (650) 853-3189
  • Hazardous Material Spills & Illegal Dumping: (650) 325-9021
  • Reporting Accidental Industry or Business Discharges to Sanitary Sewer System: (e.g., hazardous materials): (650) 329-2598.

Los Altos

  • Sewer Back-Ups: (650) 947-2785 / (650) 947-2770
  • Storm Drains: (650) 948-0482 / (650) 948-8223
  • Hazardous Material Spills & Illegal Dumping: 911
  • Reporting Accidental Industry or Business Discharges to Sanitary Sewer System: (e.g., hazardous materials): (650) 329-2598.

Los Altos Hills

  • Sewer Back-Ups: (650) 941-7222 / (408) 299-3233
  • Storm Drains: (650) 941-7222 / (408) 299-3233
  • Spills and Dumping: 911
  • Reporting Accidental Industry or Business Discharges to Sanitary Sewer System: (e.g., hazardous materials): (650)329-2598.

Mountain View

  • Sewer Back-Ups: (650) 903-6329
  • Storm Drains: (650) 903-6329
  • Spills and Dumping: (650) 903-6329
  • Reporting Accidental Industry or Business Discharges to Sanitary Sewer System: (e.g., hazardous materials): (650) 329-2598.

Palo Alto

  • Sewer Back-Ups: (650) 329-2579
  • Storm Drains Blockages: (650) 329-2413 (24-hour line, or submit an online work request to Palo Alto 311.)
  • Hazardous Material Spills & Illegal Dumping in Storm Drains: (650) 329-2413 (call this same number when improper storage may lead to a spill, or submit an online work request to Palo Alto 311.)
  • Reporting Accidental Industry or Business Discharges to Sanitary Sewer System: (e.g., hazardous materials): (650) 329-2598

Sanford

  • Sewer Back-Ups: (650) 723-2281
  • Storm Drains: (650) 723-2281
  • Spills and Dumping: (650) 723-2281
  • Reporting Accidental Industry or Business Discharges to Sanitary Sewer System: (e.g., hazardous materials): (650) 329-2598.