Autumn is the time of year when City crews work toward keeping storm drains free of falling leaves. Leaves in street gutters can clog storm drains, potentially causing flooding of neighborhood streets. Your help with prompt removal of fallen leaves is appreciated: potential flooding will be reduced; pollution to local creeks will be prevented; and public/environmental health will be increased.
In Santa Clara Valley, storm drains flow directly to local creeks and into the Bay with no pollution treatment processing. If leaves build up in underground catch basins, a poisonous gas (hydrogen sulfide) can occur. This can deplete the oxygen in creeks and streams where fish live, and can be dangerous to City workers during their efforts to unclog storm drains. Help keep Cupertino cleaner and safer by not allowing leaves to blow down the gutter and into storm drains. Keep an eye on your neighborhood catch basin. If it is clogging with leaves, clear it with a broom or call the Street Division at 408.777.3269.
Please do not blow or rake leaves from your yard into the street! Place leaves with your other Clean Green yard wastes in your green cart or start a composting pile.
To learn more about composting, contact the County Home Composting Education Program at 408.918.4640.
To learn more about other things that should not go down the storm drain, call the Environmental Programs Division at 408.777.3342.