What is the difference between a storm sewer and a sanitary sewer?
The storm sewer system takes stormwater runoff from parking lots, roads, and ditches and transports it into creeks, rivers, and lakes. Whatever goes into the stormwater drainage system is what goes into our waterways, untreated. Sanitary sewers take household water and waste from toilets, sinks and showers, and transport it to a wastewater treatment facility. There, the water is treated and then discharged back into a creek, stream, river, or lake.

Show All Answers

1. What is Stormwater runoff?
2. Where are storm drains?
3. What is the difference between a storm sewer and a sanitary sewer?
4. Does this stormwater get treated at the wastewater plant?
5. What kind of pollution is in stormwater runoff?
6. What about Bacteria?
7. Is blowing lawn clippings down the storm drain or placing them in the wetland area behind my house a bad thing? Don’t they work like mulch or compost?
8. What is a BMP?
9. What can I do to help prevent stormwater pollution?