What
is a watershed?
A
watershed is a land area that drains water into a creek,
river, lake, wetland, bay or groundwater aquifer.
Is
my home in a watershed?
Yes! Everyone
lives in a watershed.
What
is stormwater?
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.
Where
does stormwater go after it drains into a storm drain?
In Santa
Clara Valley, stormwater
entering storm drains travels through underground pipes
directly into a local creek 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.
What
are some common types of stormwater pollution?
Litter;
fertilizers and pesticides used when gardening; vehicle fluids
left on the driveway and street; hazardous chemicals dumped
into storm drains; pet waste left on the ground.
How
can I dispose of chemicals properly?
Contact
your waste hauler of visit www.hhw.org
to learn about the proper disposal of household chemicals and
other household hazardous waste.
What
is a TMDL?
A TMDL-or
total maximum daily load-is a calculation of the maximum
amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still
meet water quality standards. In other words, it is the sum of
the allowable loads of a single pollutant from all
contributing point and nonpoint sources, and includes a margin
of safety and consideration of seasonal variations. In
addition, a TMDL contains the reductions needed to meet water
quality standards and allocates those reductions among the
sources in the watershed.
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