Stormwater Management & Green Infrastructure

Stormwater Management

The Town is required by law to regulate stormwater runoff by inspecting construction sites and stormwater infrastructure, monitoring trash and other pollutants, and educating the public. The Town is a member of a comprehensive countywide effort to prevent stormwater pollution into the creeks and watersheds of San Francisco Bay. For more information, visit San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program (SMCWPPP).

Green Infrastructure

Green infrastructure is an approach to water management that protects, restores, or mimics the natural water cycle to slow down and clean stormwater, and to keep it from overwhelming the Town’s stormwater systems. The Town of Hillsborough developed a Green Infrastructure Plan to gradually shift from traditional “gray” storm drain infrastructure—which channels polluted runoff directly into receiving waters (like creeks) without treatment—to a more resilient and sustainable storm drain system comprised of “green” infrastructure, which captures, stores and treats stormwater using specially designed systems. Specific requirements for this Green Infrastructure Plan can be found under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Regional Permit. Additional Stormwater Management Resources can be found here.