Storm Water Protection

Storm drains in Los Altos drain directly to local creeks and the San Francisco Bay without treatment. Water that enters storm drains from areas such as driveways, sidewalks, lawns, and streets is often contaminated by pollutants that can be harmful to fish, wildlife, and people. 

Stormwater is also an important resource that replenishes creeks and groundwater. In natural landscapes, most rainwater soaks into the soil. However, in our urban areas, paved surfaces prevent rain from soaking into the ground.  As rainwater flows over these surfaces, it can pick up pollutants such as motor oil, metals, pesticides, and litter. It also flows more quickly over these surfaces and in storm drains, causing erosion when it flows into the creeks.

Los Altos is working together with residents, businesses, and other Cities and Towns in Santa Clara County to create sustainable or green streets, buildings, and parking lots that mimic natural landscapes by incorporating green stormwater features. These features allow rainwater that flows over buildings, streets, and parking lots to soak into the ground and be filtered by soil. This reduces the quantity of water and pollutants flowing into storm drains and local creeks.

The City of Los Altos conducts several programs to protect water quality in our local creeks and the Bay. Los Altos is a member of the Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program (SCVURPPP), which is an association of thirteen cities and towns in the Santa Clara Valley, together with Santa Clara County and Valley Water. The program participants share a common National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit to discharge stormwater to the San Francisco Bay. To reduce pollution in urban runoff to the "maximum" extent possible, the program incorporates regulatory, monitoring, and outreach measures aimed at improving the water quality of San Francisco Bay and local creeks.

To learn more about stormwater and how your actions can protect our creeks and the Bay, visit Watershed Watch. The Watershed Watch campaign, an initiative of SCVURPPP, offers free educational resources on topics like trash pollution, green stormwater infrastructure, and how to choose less-toxic pest control. On the website, you can also find discount cards for car washes and other items, as well as volunteer opportunities to help conserve our local waterways and environment. 

Further resources on stormwater are available through Valley Water and the Bay Area Stormwater Management Agencies Association.

Report an Illicit Discharge

To report a discharge of non-stormwater into the street, a storm drain, or the creek, please call the 24-Hour Non-Emergency Police Phone Line (650) 947-2770 or use the Online Code-Enforcement Form to submit your observation.