How does that water flow?

I read with great interest Doug Paterson's letter, "Garden runoff pollutes water supply," of Sept. 13. Paterson described how runoff from our lawns and gardens is entering the supply of reclaimed water from the Tapia plant.

However, Paterson omitted a very important fact. How does surface runoff enter the Tapia plant?

Surface runoff flows along our street gutters, picking up additional contaminants, and finally entering our storm drains. The storm drains empty in Malibu Creek as well as Medea, Triunfo and other local creeks that finally merge with Malibu Creek.

While Malibu Creek does pass close by the Tapia plant, the runoff does not enter the Tapia processing plant. That's correct: storm drains are quite separate from sewage drains.

So, Mr. Paterson, how does the surface runoff from our gardens contaminate reclaimed water? David E. Ross Oak Park