All of La Habra's rainwater runoff drains into the Coyote Creek, which is a principal tributary of the San Gabriel River. The San Gabriel River empties into the Pacific Ocean in Seal Beach. Many residents are not aware that La Habra has 2 drainage systems:
Sanitary Sewers: These drain the pipes connected to your sinks, bathrooms, washing machines, etc. They carry waste to a sewage treatment plant where the water is cleaned and then reused or discharged into the ocean away from beaches.
Storm Drain System: The storm drain system begins at the curb gutter in the street. The sole purpose of the storm drains is to quickly carry rainwater out to the ocean in order to prevent flooding. Storm drain water is not treated or filtered like the waste water in the sanitary sewer system. As a result, any urban pollution entering the system is discharged directly to the ocean.