FAQs

Traffic signal outages should be reported to Public Works at (650) 903-6311. Signals along Central Expressway are the responsibility of Santa Clara County and signals along El Camino Real and freeway off-ramps are the responsibility of Caltrans.

Santa Clara County:  408-494-2700

Caltrans:  415-330-6500 (after hours: 510-286-6918)

The City collects leaves that have fallen onto City streets.  For the City's street sweeper to be able to pick up leaves, the leaves must be in piles no more than 3 feet wide and 3 inches deep; the street sweeper cannot pick up sticks, branches, or palm leaves. 

Leaves that have fallen onto private property must be collected by the property owner and recycled in a yard trimmings cart.  Carts are available in 64- and 96- gallon sizes from Recology.  To arrange for a special collection or order a cart, call Recology at (650) 967-3034. Visit www.mountainview.gov/yardtrimmings for more information.

Sandbags are located at the City's Municipal Operations Center at 231 N. Whisman Road. For additional sandbag locations, visit the  Valley Water website. Sandbags are generally available after November 1.  For more information, call Public Services at (650) 903-6329.

If you encounter any sewer related problems or observe sewage running into the street or drainage facilities, call Public Services immediately at (650) 903-6329.

A backup typically occurs in a home's plumbing system or the lateral (the pipe connecting your home's plumbing system with the City's sewer main). Most minor back-ups in drains or toilets may be remedied with drain cleaner or a plunger.  If you are unable to clear the line on your own, call a plumber.  If the plumber determines the problem is not in your line, call Public Services at (650) 903-6329.

A City sewer main back-up is much less common and occurs when water or materials come up through a drain, toilet, or other fixture when a home's plumbing system is not being used.  This event may indicate that the City's sewer main is blocked and wastewater is backing up into your lateral line and home, and you should immediately call Public Services at (650) 903-6329.  If you call the City for assistance with a sewer problem, try to have all vehicles moved from in front of your home to ensure the crew has access to the sewer line.

City crews will clean blockages located in the City's sewer mains.  Property owners are responsible for clearing any blockages in the home's plumbing system and the lateral pipeline that connects to the City's sewer main.  If the lateral has a property line cleanout, the City as a courtesy will clean the lateral from the property line cleanout to the sewer main.  The property owner is responsible for damage resulting from an improperly constructed lateral, including lack of required backflow prevention devices (valves on your home plumbing system that prevent water from flowing into your home from the sewer system) or illegal hookups.

To open an account and have your water turned on, call the City's Finance and Administrative Services Department at (650) 903-6317.

If you already have an active account in good financial standing, and you have no water, call Public Services at (650) 903-6329.

Mountain View’s water is characterized as soft to moderately hard, generally making water softeners unnecessary. Hardness is measured in milligrams of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) per liter. 17.1 mg/L of CaCO3 is equal to one grain per gallon of hardness. View the tables and map below for more information.

Water Hardness Scale

2012 Sampling Results

Pressure Zone & Water Source Map