Only rain belongs down storm drains, creeks, and rivers. The water that goes through storm drains is not treated and goes straight to our creeks and Russian River. This means that anything you or your neighbors put down the storm drain or directly into the river can harm our drinking water quality and the animals that live in our watershed.
It is illegal to use storm drains or rivers to dump:
- Landscaping debris, like lawn clippings and leaves
- Construction materials
- Paint
- Sediment and/or silt
- Wash water from washing cars, carpets, clothes
- Sewage
- Automotive fluids
- Food waste
- Pet waste
- Anything that isn’t rainwater
If you see someone dumping something into the storm drain or river, we suggest education before enforcement. If you feel safe, try to help them understand the connection between storm drains and our rivers or direct them towards resources on our website.
Make a Report
If efforts at education are unsuccessful, then call one of the following municipalities depending on your location to report the spill. Note that if you are in an emergency situation with hazardous materials or unknown spills that could result in danger to the health and safety of those present, call 911!
| Municipality | Phone number |
|---|---|
| Cloverdale | 707.894.2150 |
| Cotati | 707.796.4691 |
| Healdsburg | 707.431.3346 |
| Rohnert Park | 707.588.3300 (call 707.584.2600 if after hours) or use their online reporting tool at: bit.ly/report-rohnert |
| Santa Rosa | 707.543.3800 extension 7 (call 707.543.3805 if after hours) |
| Sebastopol | 707.823.5331 (call 707.829.4400 if after hours) |
| Unincorporated County of Sonoma | 707.565.1900 extension 2518 |
| Windsor | 707.838.1006 extension 0 (call 707.838.1000 if after hours) |
| Ukiah | 707.463.6288 |
| Unincorporated Mendocino County | 707.234.6679 |
What should you do with wash water and other waste?
It depends on the type of waste, but generally wash water can be redirected to landscaping, where it can percolate into the ground. Food waste and landscaping debris can be put into green waste bins or used as compost.
To safely dispose of hazardous waste in Sonoma County visit the Central Disposal Site (Bldg. 5), 500 Mecham Rd. in Petaluma or call 707-795-2025. They do not accept Explosives or ammunition, radioactive materials, biological wastes (except syringes), controlled substances, electronics (collected at Transfer Stations in e-waste drop-off areas), compressed gas cylinders (20-pound BBQ and 1-pound propane cylinders okay), and pressure treated wood or treated wood waste (TWW)
To safely dispose of hazardous waste in Mendocino County for free, call (707)-234-6400 to contact the Haz-Mobile. There is a charge for compressed gas cylinders 5 gallons or smaller. They do not accept explosives, ammunition, radioactive waste, medical waste, and compressed gas cylinders larger than 5 gallons.
Thank you for doing your part to keep our watershed clean!
