What is the difference between the storm drain system and the sanitary sewer?

Storm drain systems include the gutter, drainage inlets, catch basins, piping and the waterways they convey stormwater to in order to prevent flooding of our streets.  Stormwater flows through these conveyances directly to receiving waterbodies such as the Delta and Bay without being treated. Storm drain systems are also often referred to as MS4s or Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems. Sanitary sewers transfer wastewater from our homes and businesses to wastewater treatment plants for primary, secondary or tertiary treatment prior to being discharged to receiving waterbodies via outfall pipes or reclaimed for irrigation purposes.

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1. What are Area of Benefit (AOB) funds used for?
2. What are Best Management Practices (BMPs)?
3. What are Pollutants of Concern (POCs)?
4. What are the Public Works Counter hours of service, phone numbers, and location?
5. What can property owners do to help the County's maintenance efforts of private trees and other vegetation?
6. What can property owners do to prevent fallen leaves from creating blockages in the drainage system?
7. What do I do if my neighbor informed me that I am encroaching on his property?
8. What information should I provide when reporting a streetlight outage?
9. What is a cape seal?
10. What is a micro-surface seal?
11. What is a slurry seal?
12. What is a traffic Area of Benefit (AOB)?
13. What is a Watershed?
14. What is an illicit discharge and who do I call to report it?
15. What is an NOI and what permits does it cover?
16. What is C.3?
17. What is IPM and what are some ways I can try it?
18. What is NPDES and who oversees it?
19. What is the Adopt-A-Road Program?
20. What is the construction work occurring on a County Road or Flood Control Facility?
21. What is the CRIPP?
22. What is the design storm for my project?
23. What is the difference between a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and a Stormwater Control Plan (SWCP)?
24. What is the difference between point source and non-point source?
25. What is the difference between the County Watershed Program and the Contra Costa Clean Water Program?
26. What is the difference between the storm drain system and the sanitary sewer?
27. What is the Public Works Budget?
28. What projects are upcoming or currently advertised?
29. What should I do if I see someone dumping garbage on private or public property?
30. What is a Chip Seal?
31. What is the basis of the Area of Benefit (AOB) Program?
32. What is the County's responsibility in maintaining private drainage systems?
33. What is the drainage easement across my property? Can I build on it? What can I do on it?