For more information, visit the Water and Wastewater Utility Department's web site. People who are not connected to the City's water and sewer pipes get their drinking water from underground wells that draw from the aquifer, and then their waste water is sent into a septic tank in their yard for treatment. Stormwater is the same thing as rainwater. That water flows across the land and either soaks into the ground or runs into storm drains and waterways. Stormwater entering storm drains travels through underground pipes directly into a creek or lake often carrying pollutants with it.
Many people mistakenly believe that storm drains direct stormwater into the sewer system.
Since stormwater is untreated and unfiltered, pollution can quickly impact our creeks. Apply fertilizers properly and never before a rain. Use pesticides only as a last resort. Try less toxic alternatives. Don't use motor oil, gasoline, or kerosene to kill weeds and insects.