Stormwater

The City of Sandy manages stormwater in order to reduce runoff and thereby reduce capital and maintenance costs to the City and improve the water quality of streams in and around Sandy.

The City requires all new developments to treat and detain stormwater from the 2, 5, 10 and 25-year storm events to pre-development conditions, as defined in the City of Portland Stormwater Management Manual, and in the City Municipal Code.

24-hour rainfall amounts to be used in the calculations
Storm Recurrence Interval Rainfall (inches)
2 year 3.50
5 year 4.50
10 year 4.80
25 year 5.50
100 year 6.50

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the city do anything about the water in my backyard?

If it's a result of the city’s infrastructure failing then.. Yes.

If the water is determined to be the result of groundwater or an adjacent property shedding water onto yours, the City would not be involved.

Category: Stormwater FAQ's
Does the city maintain the detention pond in my neighborhood?

Yes, the city removes volunteer trees, knocks down invasive species, and trims the grasses in most stormwater detention ponds. 

Category: Stormwater FAQ's
Does the city monitor surface water quality at our local streams?

The city does not monitor local streams. Clackamas County and the Department of Environmental Quality are the agencies to contact for stream/river inquiries.

Category: Stormwater FAQ's
How can I tell if my house is hooked up to the storm drain?

Simple food coloring dye can be dropped into a pipe opening. This should determine where the drain leads. The city can also perform smoke testing to determine if pipes are connected to the proper city infrastructure.

Category: Stormwater FAQ's
I think there's a break in one of the drainage systems in my yard. Can the city check it out?

The city can come out to determine who the responsible party is.  Private drainage systems located from the curb to the house, are usually the homeowners responsibility. There are some public drainage systems in our community that will be the city's responsibility.

Category: Stormwater FAQ's
Someone dumped oil in the catch basin. Can the city do something about it?

The city can remove the contaminants with it's vacuum truck.

Category: Stormwater FAQ's
What is storm detention?

Stormwater detention in the designed control of stormwater runoff. Detention facilities regulate the discharge rate of water and in some cases allow for permeation or evaporation.

Category: Stormwater FAQ's
What is the manhole for in my backyard?

It could be a sewer manhole or a storm manhole. Both systems are not always located in the road. Sewer and storm systems work off gravity, so via a utility easement. 

A manhole may be in your back yard due to the engineering and design to achieve gravity flow to the next manhole.

Category: Stormwater FAQ's
Where does the water drain to after going into a catch basin?

The water may drain into a nearby waterway or a storm detention pond.

Category: Stormwater FAQ's
Who do I contact if my question is not listed in this list?

Ryan Wood ~ Rwood@ci.sandy.or.us
Matt Degner ~ Mdegner@ci.sandy.or.us
OR
PW@ci.sandy.or.us
Phone: 503-668-5310

Category: Stormwater FAQ's
Who’s in charge of cleaning up the creeks?

Clackamas County and D.E.Q. maintain waterways.

Category: Stormwater FAQ's
Why can't I wash out my painting equipment in the storm drain? It's water based paint.

All storm drains eventually drain into a water way. Paint and other hazardous materials and chemicals can pollute the local environment and poison wildlife.

Category: Stormwater FAQ's
Why does water sometimes come out of my catch basin when it rains?

The most likely scenario is that a downstream pipe is blocked.  Certain stormwater catch basins are designed with no outlet and only have an inlet. These catch basins fill up and are designed to convey rainwater down the curb gutter to the next catch basin.

Category: Stormwater FAQ's
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