Rain is in the forecast for Sacramento, California, and there is a deadline to vote in a special storm water system.
"To continue protecting clean, local water, the city of Sacramento is considering a potential ballot measure to fund repairs, maintenance and improvements to its aging storm water system, which protects homes, businesses, local rivers and water sources," said a post on the city's website.
According to the city, its storm water system is nearly 100 years old.
In many neighborhoods, Sacramento relies on a combined system where sewage mixes with storm water on its way to treatment plants. In the case of old pipes or pumps break in these areas, floodwater could include raw sewage.
The measure would increase fees paid by industrial, commercial and residential property owners to:
- Protect drinking water quality and supplies;
- Keep toxic chemicals, sewage and human waste out of rivers and creeks;
- Prevent sewage and human waste from overflowing onto neighborhood streets;
- Provide safe, clean water for future droughts and emergencies;
- Replace aging and deteriorating pumps that prevent flooding; and
- Repair aging water pipelines and infrastructure
In the case the measure is approved, the average single-family home would pay an additional $6/month and larger lots would pay up to $10/month, according to the city's website.
"Ballots are due back by Mar. 16 at 4:30 p.m. That deadline applies whether they are being mailed or turned in by hand," according to the city. "Some people may confuse this with 'being mailed by March 16,' which is not the case; we must receive them by March 16."
Pollution from streets can flow into local waterways, such as the American and Sacramento rivers, according to the city.
There is a list of projects that has been developed based on current needs and condition of the storm drainage system.
