Storm Drain Maintenance

The Storm Drain Section maintains and repairs the storm drainage system in public areas and along City roadways. We routinely clean the drainage system and remove obstacles blocking the flow of water. Storm drains flow directly to the Bay, and to protect the Bay's water quality, it is important that nothing but rain water enters the storm drains.

Maintenance of Oakland’s Storm Drain system includes:

• Clean & inspect more than 12,000 storm inlets
• Clean & inspect five primary trash collection units (CDS)
• Service approximately 137 weirs (areas where natural water courses enter our storm drain infrastructure)
• Clean & inspect 402 miles of storm pipe
• Provide vegetation management of City creek areas

How to Report Flood-Related or Storm-Related Problems

Please keep these numbers handy for emergencies, and share them with neighbors:

For storm-related emergency issues on public property and in the public right-of-way (such as flooding, mudslides, landslides, and manholes overflowing onto streets and sidewalks), contact OAK 311. Dial 311 from any phone within Oakland or call 510-615-5566.

For non-emergencies, OAK 311 can also be contacted in other ways:

Email: OAK311@oaklandca.gov

Online: http://311.oaklandca.gov/

Mobile App: Seeclickfix or OAK 311, available in the App Store for Apple devices and Google Play for Androids

For downed power lines or if you smell natural gas, leave the area immediately and then call 9-1-1 or PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.

For power outage alerts go online to pge.com/outage alerts.

For water service emergencies (e.g., no water service, broken hydrants, broken water main pipes), contact EBMUD at 1-866-403-2683.

For life-threatening emergencies, call 9-1-1 from a land line or (510) 777-3211 from a cell phone.

Stay up to Date on Emergencies and Public Safety

The public is encouraged to subscribe to AC Alert to receive emails and text messages. The system allows subscribers to provide up to five locations, such as a school, home, work and an elder dependent’s address. That way, subscribers will receive updates when an emergency alert impacts one of their self-identified locations.

AC Alert is a unified emergency notification system for Alameda County residents, businesses and visitors. An AC Alert subscription is free, and all residents and business owners are strongly encouraged to sign up. For more information about this system and to find out how to participate, please visit https://www.acgov.org/emergencysite/