Runoff from rainstorms is called stormwater. Stormwater becomes polluted by flowing over dirty surfaces, such as parking lots. Stormwater pollution also takes place when someone dumps materials, like oil or paint, directly into the storm drain. Polluted stormwater flows without treatment directly to creeks and rivers, where it can be harmful to aquatic life.
Catch basins and storm drain inlets are curbside receptacles that catch surface water runoff from rainfall and deliver it to the storm drain system, where it's eventually delivered to local creeks and rivers.
No. Storm drains and sanitary sewers have two distinct functions. Storm drains are intended to collect and transport runoff from rainfall. Storm drain systems do not remove pollutants from water before it is discharged into streams and rivers. These are typically the drains found in streets and in parking lots. Sanitary sewers collect wastewater from indoor plumbing such as toilets, sinks, washing machines and floor drains and take it to a sewage treatment plant. The treatment plant removes many pollutants from wastewater before it is discharged to the river.
Yes. County crews maintain approximately 61,000 drain inlets, 33,000 manholes and thousands of miles of storm drain pipelines countywide.
Seeing as Sacramento County maintains more than 61,000 drain inlets, there are too many to clean in a short period of time. Storm drain inlets are maintained on a year-round schedule.
It sounds like a good idea, but during a rainstorm, trash is quickly swept into drain inlets. Any screen or filtration device placed in front of the drain inlet would cause trash to accumulate and clog the grate, preventing proper drainage and potentially creating a flood hazard. With approximately 61,000 drain inlets in Sacramento County maintenance crews would be unable to keep up with cleaning these devices potentially creating flooding hazardous. However there new technologies being developed in the form of filtration or screening devices to be installed and inserted inside drain inlets. The Stormwater Program Engineering groups are always evaluating these new chnologies for possible future use.
Heavy metals paint thinner and paint products, motor oil, pesticides, fertilizers, human and animal feces, antifreeze, and dead animals - are all but a few examples of the pollutants typically found in the storm drain system.
On a typical dry summer day, an average of one million gallons of water flow through the system. This flow comes from over landscape irrigation runoff (primarily lawns) fire hydrant pressure releases, and car washes throughout the region, just to name a few.
In a heavy rainstorm, this flow can increase to billions and billions of gallons a day.
No. Many channels in Sacramento County were concrete lined to accommodate runoff from large storm events while using the least amount of land. The County is now realizing that naturally vegetated channels provide many benefits that concrete channels do not. These benefits include improved water quality, animal habitat and recreational value. The County's current policy calls for design of natural channels rather then concrete lined channels.
Many customers are looking more closely at their daily water consumption and are surprised by their water use. SCWA has made an online portal available for residents to check their read history: watersmart.scwa.net. Alternatively customers can contact 311 for assistance and ask for an email copy of their historic consumption.
Hand watering is only allowed with a drip attachment on the hose on the same days as drip irrigation.
Currently, SCWA customers are allowed to water three (3) days a weeks. The last number in your property address will determine when you can water. You can learn more on our water conservation page.
Yes. There are no restrictions one-time filling of a pool. If you are not using potable water from the Water Agency then you will not be fined. Proof of receipts with dates and volumes should be sufficient for proof.
Yes SCWA offer a Cash for Grass program along with a toilet and clothes washer rebate program. Please check our rebates page to see if you qualify for them.
Draining and refilling a pool for maintenance services is allowed.
All potable uses of water are subject to restrictions. Vegetable gardens on drip systems are allowed to be watered 3 days a week. The State Water Board has established that the following activities related to the use of potable water are permanently prohibited. You can learn more on ourwater efficiency page.
There is a Contact Us webpage with information on how to reach us by phone or email.
A door hanger means that water waste has been identified on your property by Water Agency staff. The notification contains information on the type of waste noted and information on how to reduce or eliminate water waste. Reducing the water waste on your property may help you save money (for meter billed customers) and will help reduce the depletion of our water supply.
The first notification should contain detailed information on the water waste identified on your property. Most often we post a door hanger for overwatering. Signs of overwatering include water runoff, algae on the sidewalk or flooding. We recommend shortening watering times for each cycle to reduce runoff from your property and checking your irrigation system for leaks or broken pipes or sprinklers.
No. There are no exemptions for newly installed turf.
No, this is not allowed. SCWA customers are on a one day a week watering schedule for lawns (sprinklers) and three days a week for trees and shrubs (drip).
Water Wise Consulting, Inc. is a consultant that we hired to provide Water Wise House and Business Calls to assist us in identifying simple ways for our customers to save water and money on water bills. They come to your home/business and check indoor plumbing fixtures, your irrigation system, provide training on programming your irrigation timer, and inspect for water leaks and offer water saving tips specific to your property. This service is FREE to all Sacramento County Water Agency customers. Call 866-685-2322 to schedule an appointment.
A difference in water rates could be due to many factors. The two main factors could be metered versus flat rate or you may be in a different service area. There are over 25 individual water providers in Sacramento County. If you have any billing questions, please contact the County’s Consolidated Utilities Billing System at (916) 875-5555.
Use our Water Waste Reporting page to let us know where you see it.
Dial 311 if you wish to make a call to report water wasters.
To find out how much your utility bill is, please contact the County’s Utility Billing System (CUBS) by calling (916) 875-5555 or sending an email to utilities@saccounty.net.
The Water Agency currently has two rebate programs available.
Visit our rebate programs webpage for more information.
50-80% of all residential water is used outdoors for irrigation purposes. Reducing your outdoor water use has the potential to save you the most on your water bill. Leaks are another huge water waste in homes. A simple test to check if your toilet has a leaky flapper is to put food coloring in your tank. If it seeps into your bowl, you know your flapper is leaking and you may need to replace it. Visit our water conservation page to find other ways to save water.
If you feel you received a notice in error, please call us at (916) 875-1955.
Yes, we can do an inspection of the backyard. Once we determine where the water is coming from, a notice will be sent to the property owner.
No, there is definitely a way to water without having runoff. Soil varies from area to area so there is no perfect watering time that will suit all types. The best way to eliminate runoff is to shorten watering cycles but run more cycles. We recommend shortening each cycle to 5-7 minutes, with at least an hour between each cycle giving the water enough time to absorb into the lawn. If you have steep slopes, you may want to consider replacing your sprinkler nozzles with low output nozzles such as rotary nozzles. You can replace only the nozzle and don’t need to replace the whole sprinkler head.
Algae on sidewalks are caused from water running off your property and the sidewalk remaining wet. We recommend letting the algae dry up and try removing it with a scrub brush. You may also use a biodegradable product that has citric acid like lemon juice or vinegar, but only use the product if there is staining on the concrete. Be careful when using any products, because an excessive amount can enter storm drains and negatively impact our local creeks and rivers. To prevent algae from forming, you can adjust your sprinklers to face only the landscape and reduce watering times.
If you see your neighbor overwatering, please contact us and our water patrol will go out and investigate. Please include the days/times of the water waste along with a brief description and address.
Finding leaks can be difficult. First, we recommend turning off the water to your home. For those with water meters, check your meter (typically found in front of your property) and see if there is any movement. If the water is shut off, there should not be any movement in your water meter. If so, you may have a leak or malfunction. An easy way to check if your toilet is leaking is to place a few drops of food coloring into the tank. If you see the color in the bowl, you may have a change your flapper. Please bring the old flapper to the store with you and replace with the same flapper. A different flapper may cause the toilet to not function well or change the flush volume.
Water providers enforce the State’s mandates for their customers. However, since residents on private wells do not receive water from a water provider, purveyors have no jurisdiction or enforcement powers over private well users.
The State Water Resources Control Board enacted the water restrictions, and distributed a media released on May 5, 2025 regarding water conservation mandates.
Commercial, Industrial and Institutional properties that are not served by a water supplier (or are self-supplied, such as by a groundwater well) also must either reduce water use by 25 percent or restrict outdoor irrigation to no more than two days per week. No reporting is required but these properties must maintain documentation of their water use and practices.
For more information, contact:
State Water Resources Control Board Enforcement Office
Meet OE Director: Yvonne West
About the Office of Enforcement
(916) 341-5272
It is not within the prevue of SCWA to make decisions regarding fireworks. However Metro Fire does have current information on fireworks and fireworks safety. Please see www.metrofire.ca.gov.
The County's Stormwater Ordinance makes it an environmental crime to knowingly dump or discharge hazardous materials into the storm drain system and the County can impose fines on violators when they are caught.
Dumping used oil into the storm drain system is illegal. One gallon of motor oil can pollute 250,000 gallons of drinking water. To report the problem, call (916) 875-RAIN.
Otherwise, all county residents and businesses can take their used, uncontaminated motor oil to the North Area Recovery Station Household Hazardous Waste Facility located on 4550 Roseville Road, North Highlands. For more information or to make an appointment, call (916) 875-5555.
Storm drains are designed for catching rain water only. Dumping trash or other pollutants down storm drain inlets is illegal and is a violation of the Federal Clean Water Act of 1972 as well as the County of Sacramento's Stormwater Ordinance. If a neighbor is disposing of trash in the storm drain, they may not understand that drain inlets directly connect to our creeks and rivers.
If you have an amicable relationship with your neighbor, it may be just a matter of informing and making them aware of its environmental impact. If it is someone who you feel is knowingly violating and repeatedly dumping into storm drains, please call the County of Sacramento, Department of Water Resources, Stormwater Quality Program at (916) 875-RAIN; or the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities at (916) 808-1400.
Fines and penalties are based on type and amount of illegally discharged material. Each violation can be based on, but not limited to, a cost recovery fine and/or enforcement fine.
Paints, paint thinner, cleaning chemicals, automotive fluids and batteries are all examples of household hazardous waste that need proper disposal.
Please visit the Waste Management and Recycling website or call (916) 875-5555. For more information visit the Household Hazardous Waste program.
The best place to wash your car is at a full or self service car wash, since these facilities treat and discharge their wastewater to the sanitary sewer system, and many use recycled water.
If you wash your vehicle at home, wash it over a lawn or gravel area, if feasible. Use biodegradable soaps, and use as little water as possible. Shut off water while washing your car, or use a trigger nozzle to stop the flow. Remember not to leave your car on the lawn.
Grass, leaves and yard clippings that are repeatedly swept into catch basins can clog the drain, causing flooding and the potential for becoming a breeding ground for rodents and insects. Additionally, when grass and leaves decompose they encourage excessive growth of algae which can deprive fish of adequate oxygen.