y large, open grates, or may be open drains along roadways. They are normally rectangular or square in shape. Storm drains are found in low lying areas of parking lots, along streets, and around buildings. Many storm drains are now being marked, so that you will know they lead to a local lake, river, stream or ocean, not to a treatment facility.
             Sanitary drains, on the other hand, do lead to a waste treatment facility. They are usually small (not often more than 4 inches in diameter), round drains, often covered by a small brass plate. Sanitary drains are typically found in bathroom and kitchen areas, or under dumpsters. You will not find open sanitary drains outside. Collectively, all draining water is called storm water runoff and is a concern at commercial and industrial sites as well as in your neighborhood because of the pollutants it carries. All waste, including litter, oil & grease, food, dirt, debris, cleaners, and paint, should be disposed of properly. They could all pollute our treasured waterways, even if not placed directly in the storm drain.
             All storm water runoff that does not seep into the ground (or evaporate) finds its way into systems of underground pipes and may travel for many miles before being released into your local lake, river, stream or ocean. Most storm water is not filtered or treated before it flows into your local body of water. Anything poured into a gutter or a storm drain, such as used motor oil or antifreeze, flows directly to the your local body of water without being treated at all. When it rains, oil, antifreeze, detergents, pesticides and other pollutants get washed from driveways, backyards, parking lots, and streets into storm drains and then directly into your local river or ocean untreated! An EPA study, Wastewater Primer, indicated that roughly one third of identified cases of water quality problems nationwide come from stormwater, whether from farmland, street, parking lots, constructi...