1. Sewer pipes take our dirty water away after we use it.

2. There are two pipes that run under the street — sanitary sewers and storm drains. Sanitary sewers collect water from fixtures inside buildings such as toilets, sinks, and washers. Storm drains collect water that flows into street gutters.

3. When sanitary sewers get clogged, sewage backs up into the street and flows into the storm drains.

4. The water in storm drains does not get cleaned up. Almost all storm drains flow to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, either directly or indirectly.