Program Description

Storm drains are designed to prevent flooding. Water that enters our storm drains is not treated before it enters into our creeks and eventually the ocean. The City is required by the Federal Clean Water Act and regulated by the State to reduce the amount of pollution that enters our storm drain system.

To report a storm drain that is clogged or otherwise in need of maintenance, please call (805) 449-2499.

Don't Dump - It's the law.

City Ordinance makes it illegal to dump or allow anything but clean water, with few exceptions, to go down a storm drain. The same laws that require the City of Thousand Oaks to control the amount of pollutants entering their storm drain systems also require large construction sites and some industrial facilities to minimize the amount of pollution coming from them.

Call us to Report a Polluter. If you know of a situation where pollution may enter the storm drain, call the Public Works Municipal Service Center at (805) 449-2499.

Did You Know...

Your kitchen sink and a storm drain are not connected. The water that goes down a sink or toilet flows to a wastewater treatment plant where it is treated and disinfected before being reintroduced to the environment. However, water that flows down your driveway and into a gutter goes down a storm drain which flows directly to a creek or lake, and eventually to the ocean. This water is not treated to remove harmful bacteria or pollutants.

Almost anything but clean rain water is considered a pollutant when it enters a storm drain. Some common contaminants in stormwater include pet waste, pesticides, paint, and household chemicals like soap and fertilizer. Products advertised as "non-toxic" or "biodegradable" are not typically safe for the environment either. Even dirt entering the storm drains can cause problems for the environment. Even water from a saltwater pool is a pollutant.  

• Important Notice about Saltwater Swimming Pools and Spas [PDF].

Small amounts of pollutants can be harmful. Small amounts of pollution add up to a big problem when it comes from an entire city.

Even animals can cause stormwater pollution. Pet waste is more than a neighborhood nuisance, it contains bacteria which may cause illness. When pet waste is not picked up, rain and sprinkler runoff carry the bacteria across lawns, into streets and gutters, and then down a storm drain. For more information, visit The Poo-lution Solution.

You can prevent stormwater pollution.
Preventing stormwater pollution is simple. Follow these tips and ask your friends and family to do the same.

• Don't dump litter or waste on streets or in storm drains.
• Keep yard trimmings and leaves out of the street.
• Dispose of household chemicals properly.
• Pick up after your pet and dispose of waste in a trash can.
• Clean up oil spills and fix leaking automobiles.
• Sweep driveways and sidewalks clean - do not hose them down.

Volunteer Opportunities

If you or your group would like information on creek cleanup events and other ways you can help the environment, please call (805) 449-2386, or click here to request more information.

For additional information on other environmental programs, visit City of Thousand Oaks Environmental Programs

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