North Fulton Today

The City of Alpharetta is reminding residents and businesses about the proper use of stormwater drains, emphasizing that they are designated for water only. Pete Sewczwicz, the City’s director of public works, highlighted the implications of improper use, stating, “What a lot of people do not realize is that whatever goes into a storm drain ends up in Alpharetta’s creeks and streams.” He further explained the difference between stormwater and sanitary sewer systems, noting the direct flow of stormwater into waterways and the associated risks of contamination.

Sewczwicz raised concerns about the disposal of various materials into storm drains, mentioning, “If someone dumps something like used motor oil into a storm drain, that oil is going into a stream that flows through someone else’s yard and in which their kids may play.” Additionally, the accumulation of yard waste such as grass clippings and leaves in the system was highlighted as a significant issue leading to flooding during rain events.

The City of Alpharetta considers any non-water substance entering the stormwater system as an “illicit discharge” and encourages residents to report such activities. Sewczwicz emphasized the importance of preventing illicit discharges, stating, “Most of the debris that we remove from our stormwater system is yard waste like grass clippings and leaves that residents and landscapers have put down storm drains.” To facilitate reporting, Alpharetta offers two methods for reporting illicit discharges on their website and has recently released a video guide on identifying and reporting such incidents. The instructional video can be viewed at https://youtu.be/pZmcRTy25kM?si=6sviMhf6t5iXprMg.