- Home
- CITY SERVICES
- Street Sweeping Service
- Storm Water
Storm Water
Storm water pollution prevention is not only good public policy, it is also the law. Local, state, and federal law requires the City to enforce storm water regulations and educate residents and business owners on proper discharge of storm water to our storm drains and receiving waters. The City of Beaumont is committed to improving water quality by implementing programs that systematically reduce and eliminate pollutants from urban runoff before reaching our local streams.
Storm Water Compliance
Unlike sewage, which goes to treatment plants to remove toxins, urban runoff flows untreated through the storm drain system and directly into our local streams and rivers. Anything thrown, swept, washed, or poured into the street, gutter or a catch basin can flow into our rivers and eventually to the ocean. To effectively address this issue, the City adopted Environmental Protection Agency's National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) regulations to reduce pollutants in urban runoff and in storm water.
As part of the NPDES regulations, the City of Beaumont was issued a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit. This State Permit places pollution prevention requirements on planned developments, construction sites, commercial and industrial businesses, municipal facilities and activities, and residential communities.
Only Rain Down the Storm Drain
A common misconception is that storm drain pollution happens only when it rains. Actually, throughout the dry part of the year, pollutants such as motor oil, antifreeze, trash and grease accumulate on streets and parking lots. When rain finally does fall, the rain water carries these pollutants into the storm drain. Even common activities such as over watering lawns and landscaped areas, car washing and hosing down driveways or pet waste droppings cause pollutants to make their way into the storm drain.
Example of everyday items that can be serious pollutants:
These pollutants can effect our drinking water and pose a serious risk to people swimming or fishing in our local bodies of water. All runoff empties into the Santa Ana River which, if polluted, can contaminate our coastal waters. This contamination can endanger countless marine plants and animals living in Beaumont and the surrounding areas.
Locally, pollutants can affect our neighborhoods by creating breeding grounds for insects, including mosquitoes that can carry infectious diseases. The issue can also creating the potential for local flooding during rain events, as litter, leaves and other debris clog catch basins along streets and intersections.
Bottom line: Storm water pollutants can affect us all. When the quality of the environment around us deteriorates, our life styles, our recreational opportunities and our health feel the effects. Discarding of these materials into the storm drains is illegal and in violation of the City's NPDES Permit. If you see someone who is illegally dumping such materials, please report it immediately.
TO REPORT ILLEGAL DISCHARGES/DUMPING PLEASE CONTACT CODE ENFORCEMENT AT (951) 769-8500 OR THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AT (800) 506-2555.