Stormwater Drainage Utility

When it rains, it drains.  And it has to go somewhere.  

Welcome to the webpage dedicated to stormwater drainage within the City of Sweet Home.

The stormwater utility provides drainage and flood control, as well as protecting water quality by reducing the amount of contaminants that make their way into our streams and rivers.  Sweet Home has several programs to maintain and protect the stormwater utility including:

• Cleaning catch basins, pipes, and ditches to make sure they drain properly.
• Capital planning to ensure that future land development has adequate drainage.
• Street sweeping and fall leaf collection to reduce clogs and to remove contaminants from the road before they make it into the water.
• Illicit discharge detection & elimination to address improper dumping of contaminants into waterways.  (Remember: "Only rain down the drain.")
• Use of "green infrastructure" such as bioswales to help clean the water before it reaches the river.
• Public education about stormwater issues and what citizens can do to reduce their impact.

For more information about these programs and others, see our Total Maximum Daily Load Implementation Plan.  Our local plan is consistent with the State of Oregon plan to protect Willamette Valley waters for beneficial uses such as fishing, boating, swimming, and drinking water supply.

Did you know?

• Stormwater runoff in most cities is not treated.  It goes directly into the rivers and streams as-is.  We depend on these same water bodies for our drinking water.  The cleaner our local communities can keep our runoff, the cleaner our drinking water sources will be.
• Due to mercury and other contaminants in the water, there are currently consumption advisories for eating the fish from Oregon waters including the Willamette Valley.  See the Oregon Health Authority for more information on consumption advisories.  One of the goals of state and local water quality plans is to make it safer to eat the fish you catch.
• You can easily help keep our water safe with just a few simple actions.  Here are some quick and easy ideas that can make a big difference.