Organic Gardening Webinar

Spring is around the corner – let’s get ready for a successful gardening season! Join organic gardening experts Suzanne Bontempo and Charlotte Canner for a free webinar on Thursday, March 16, 5-6pm PT. Register Here! 

What we'll cover:

• The benefits of building a healthy garden from the ground up

• How to grow healthy plants with a water-wise approach

• Pruning tips 

• Garden maintenance to reduce pest problems

• Your questions!

This webinar is part of a series of free monthly classes about organic gardening and non-toxic pest control, offered throughout the 2023 growing season by the Clean Water Program Alameda County in association with Our Water Our World. Classes are presented by Suzanne Bontempo and Charlotte Canner, both certified Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Advocates.

Don’t miss future webinars: Sign up for Clean Water News and follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) to get notified of upcoming classes. You can find recordings of past webinars and more on our YouTube channel.

Clean Water Program

Fred and Izzy need your help to identify activities that pollute our creeks, wetlands, and the Bay. Can you spot the things people are doing to prevent pollution? 

Play to find out!

View Past Recorded Webinars

View recorded Clean Water Program Webinars about organic gardening and non-toxic pest control here!

View past bay area water supply & conservation agency webinars here!

Safely dispose of your household hazardous waste, and keep your home toxic free!

Leftover household hazardous waste should never be throw in the trash or recycling bin, flushed down the toilet, or dumped down the drain or storm sewer. Alameda County offers multiple free, convenient options for properly and safely disposing of these materials. Visit Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste's website to learn more. 

How Does Pollution Enter Our Waterways?

Runoff from our rooftops, parking lots, streets, and parks all discharges into the City’s storm drains. These storm drains are connected to our local waterways. That means pollutants such as litter, fertilizers, sediment, animal waste, and oil and grease can be picked up by runoff and washed into our creeks, and eventually the San Francisco Bay. That’s not only harmful to those critters that depend on our waterways, it also has the potential to impact public health and diminish local recreational opportunities.

What is the City doing?

The State of California has issued a Municipal Regional Stormwater Permit to municipalities and flood control districts in the Bay Area to regulate stormwater discharges. The City implements best management practices (BMPs) to control and reduce pollutant discharges into our storm drains during municipal operations such as road repairs and sidewalk maintenance.

In addition, the City does the following:

• Inspects industrial and commercial sites likely to contribute to pollution of stormwater runoff.
• Regulates new developments/redevelopments for effective stormwater controls.
• Requires the implementation of sediment and other pollutant controls for construction projects.
• Responds to illicit discharges.
• Minimize trash getting to our waterways through active street sweeping, storm drain maintenance, and the deployment of trash capture devices.

What can you do to take care of our waterways?

• Wash your car at a commercial car wash.
• Keep your outdoor trash/waste containers closed.
• Clean up spills immediately with dry methods. Never hose spills down the storm drain!
• Check for and comply with the City’s stormwater requirements if you have a project that will create or replace 2,500 ft2 or more of impervious surface.
• Regularly maintain stormwater treatment measures on your property. (If you have a maintenance agreement with the City, download the annual report form and inspection checklists here.)
• Pick up your pet’s waste.
• Report illicit discharges to the City at (925) 931-5500 or osd@cityofpleasantonca.gov.
• Volunteer at local creek cleanup events!
• Eliminate water runoff from irrigation by shortening watering time and adding multiple watering cycles. Visit www.PleasantonWaterConservation.com for more tips on how to prevent water runoff!

 How do I report dumping into the storm drain system?

• Call the Operations Services Department at (925)931-5500 between the hours of Monday-Friday, 7 AM - 3:30 PM.
• Report in the Mobile Citizen App between the hours of Monday-Friday, 7 AM - 3:30 PM.
• After hours, please call Pleasanton Police Dispatch at (925)931-5100.

Stream Maintenance for Water Conveyance

Maintenance of stream sections and stormwater detention ponds is necessary to ensure proper water flow through streams, improve water quality, and reduce the risk of flooding. The City of Pleasanton conducted an environmental review to assess the potential impacts of implementing the periodic, routine maintenance activities on specific stream segments and stormwater detention ponds within the City of Pleasanton to improve water conveyance and quality. The resulting Negative Declaration is available below for the general public. Questions with regards to Pleasanton's Stream Maintenance Project can be sent via email to rdicandia@cityofpleasantonca.gov.

• Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND)
• Appendix A: Aquatic Resources Delineation Report
• Appendix A Attachments
• Appendix B: Biological Resources Assessment Report
• Appendix C: Cultural Resources Report
• Appendix D: Native American Correspondence Basin Research

Don'ts

• Discharge anything but rainwater down the storm drain.
• Dump paint or wash paint brushes down a storm drain.
• Wash kitchen mats outside.
• Scrub down trash containers with detergents and wash them into alley or street gutter.
• Litter.

Local Resources:

• Pleasanton is a part of the Alameda Countywide Clean Water Program. To help assist businesses and residents in Alameda County. ACCWP has a wide variety of resources available to the public. 
• Our Waterful World - A guide to enjoying the beauty of water in Alameda County.
• Stores that provide fact sheets and shelf tags for customers choosing non-toxic products. 
• Clean Swell - "Join a global movement to keep beaches, waterways, and the ocean trash free. Head out to your favorite beach and use the app to easily record each item of trash you collect!"
• Household Hazardous Waste Alameda County Drop-Offs 

For more information about the City of Pleasanton Clean Water Program, please contact Scott Walker at swalker@cityofpleasantonca.gov.