Frequently Asked Questions

The City of Cotati has partnered with the Russian River Watershed Association (RRWA) to provide businesses with information regarding common pollutants and the activities that can potentially release them into the environment. This information can be found at this link: Common Pollutants Guide and Commercial Best Management Practices.

The Public Works Department is available to assist anyone that has questions about the city's storm water system and storm water permit requirements contact the Public Works Department at 707-665-4238 or email Jon Caldwell.

View the Pollution Prevention page.

The City shares the same National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Storm Water Permit with the cities of Santa Rosa, Cloverdale, Healdsburg, Rohnert Park, Sebastopol, Ukiah, the Town of Windsor, the County of Sonoma, and the Sonoma County Water Agency. These agencies have developed similar policies, procedures and guidelines in implementing their respective Storm Water Programs. Two such guide documents are the Low Impact Development Technical Design Manual and the Sonoma Water Flood Management Design. These manuals are to be followed by developments to comply with the City's Storm Water NPDES Permit and to be consistent with hydrologic analysis and flood design approaches and methods for the this region.

The City of Cotati is a member of the Russian River Watershed Association, which is an association of cities, the Sonoma County Water Agency, and the County of Sonoma for the betterment of water quality in the Russian River Watershed.

The Russian River Watershed Association sponsors a video contest for high school students in honor of Water Awareness Month. Cash awards are split between the students who create the winning video and the high school they attend. The winning videos are then used as public service announcements and as educational outreach materials. View the Prior High School Video Contest Winners for Water Awareness Month.

The City is subject to a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit (NPDES) for its storm water system which contains requirements for its own operations as well as those of private businesses and regulation of new redevelopment projects for the protection of storm water quality.

The City complies with the NPDES permit through the implementation of its Storm Water Quality Program including enforcement of provisions in its Municipal Code. The Program includes efforts to increase public awareness, assist businesses to comply with the permit requirements, a description of storm water protection measures for new construction activities and for permanent features to be constructed as part of new and redeveloped properties.