Hidden Hills Stormwater Program
The City is responsible for implementing its Regional Phase I Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit issued by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. Through implementation of various programs, the City can promote practices that help water quality improve within and beyond the reaches of the community. One of these programs includes the Public Information and Participation Program in which the City provides educational material to its residents to raise awareness of the importance of protecting local waterbodies, by implementing simple practice to daily activities. Implementation of the MS4 Permit is important as it helps preserve, enhance, and restore the State’s water resources and drinking water for the protection of human health and the environment.
As the summer months arrive, residents spend more time outdoors enjoying the warmer weather and the recreational spaces within our community. However, with more of us spending time outdoors, the amount of trash in the City can increase. Trash that is not properly disposed of can end up in the City’s streets, gutters, and storm drains, which lead to our local waterways. This contaminates the water and is harmful to human health, plants, and animals.
What is stormwater?
Stormwater is runoff from rainfall that drains through natural and urban areas. Stormwater flows into stormdrains, through creeks and eventually to the ocean and can pick up urban pollutants along the way. The City has a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit in which the City must take many measures to prevent stormwater pollution. The permit contains multiple programs that are implemented by the City: public outreach, illicit discharge and illicit connection elimination, development planning, development construction and public agency activities. With the implementation of these programs, the City can achieve water quality standards specified by the Regional Water Quality Board – Los Angeles.
And you can help!
Even simple changes to our practices can make a big difference in keeping our local waterways clean and free of trash. Here are a few things to keep in mind to eliminate trash in the City:
- Do not litter and place all trash in the appropriate waste container.
- Do not overfill your waste containers as trash can fall out.
- Pick up after your pets by putting dog waste in a sealed bag. Dispose of the bag properly.
- Report illegal dumping by calling the Countywide hotline at 1-888-CLEANLA.
- The City of Hidden Hills through its contract with Waste Management provides trash and recycling services on a weekly basis. Remember Waste Management takes your bins out to the street and returns them on the same day. Please ensure they have access to your property.
All residents have a shared responsibility to take care of their local waterways by keeping preventable pollutants such as trash from entering the storm drain system.
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