Where Does the Water Go?

Where does water go once it is used around your household? It's important to understand and do your part to protect the region's water resources. Perhaps some of the greatest dangers are from outdoor runoff if no one is paying attention. Learn more from the Orange County Public Works Department.

The diagram below shows which water streams are treated before possible contact with the ocean. Other water sources can easily flow directly into the storm drain system and flow to the ocean untreated carrying pollutants due to careless human behavior. Please do your part to keep trash and other debris out of the stormwater system. Reduce outdoor flows from over-watering landscape and control use of pesticides, fertilizers, and cleaning materials that may be inadvertently flushed into gutters and flow untreated into the ocean.