Only Rain in the Storm Drain

Please help the city of Santee keep trash and other waste out of our municipal storm drains.

Many folks don't realize that our storm drains are not connected to sewage treatment plants, where solids are screened out and liquids are treated.

This means that everything that finds its way into a city storm drain ends up in a creek or drainage channel that flows into the San Diego River. Much of the material that gets into the river, including plastic bags, eventually finds its way to the ocean.

Harm can occur even if you use a blower to push leaves into the storm drain. Leaves can not only clog a storm drain, they also decompose and promote bacteria growth, which can affect water quality in the river. Instead of using a blower, rake your leaves and bag them for disposal on the green waste trash pickup days.

And of course, never dispose of used oils, paints or household cleaners by dumping them into a storm drain. Those are toxic substances that can harm wildlife. The city provides a free disposal service to residents with household hazardous waste. To learn more, visit the city's website.

Hey, it's easy if you remember this: Only rain in the storm drain.

This message is brought to you by the clean water folks at Santee City Hall.