WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS
Top 5 New Year’s Resolutions for Happier Waterways!
Kick off your new year by setting these simple water pollution prevention resolutions. By being mindful of everyday common household pollutants, as well as our household’s irrigation practices, we can all play a role to prevent pollutants from being washed into our storm drains and protect our waterways for years to come.
|
What Can You Do To Keep Our Waterways Clean?
-
Keep storm drains free and clear. Storm drains carry water through your watershed flowing into our local waterways and eventually the ocean. Unlike sanitary sewers, water and pollutants that are released into storm drains are NOT TREATED before they reach our local creeks, rivers, and the ocean. Because of this, litter and other common household pollutants such as used oil, fertilizers, pesticides, pet waste, and other pollutants can cause public health concerns and hazards to aquatic life in our waterways. If you see pollution or irrigation runoff entering a storm drain report it here.
-
Manage watering practices. A great way to prevent the flow of pollutants into our waterways is to be mindful of our watering practices. Repair leaking or broken sprinklers and adjust sprinkler heads, so they don’t spray onto streets and sidewalks. Water in short cycles to allow water to absorb into the soil, and in the early morning or late evening when it’s cooler outside. The start of the new year is a great reminder to check your sprinkler system. Run your system and if you see water running off your property, adjust your watering practices.
-
Properly dispose of trash, yard debris, and pet waste. Place trash and yard debris into the appropriate bins, keeping them securely covered at all times to prevent items from blowing into the streets. The start of the new year is a great time to replace any leaking or deteriorating bins – contact your waste hauler for more information. Clean up pet waste in your yard at least weekly and when walking your pet, be sure to carry bags to bag up the waste. Be sure to dispose of pet waste in covered trash bins, dumpsters, or waste collection containers.
-
Properly dispose of household hazardous waste. Automobile fluids, pesticides, fertilizers, and other hazardous items contain toxic chemicals that can harm aquatic life and cause a public health concern if they enter our waterways. When not in use, store chemicals and oil in labeled containers away from contact with water. Take used or unwanted household hazardous waste (HHW) to your local HHW collection facility.
-
Pledge to ‘Love Your Water’. There’s no better way to begin meeting your New Year’s Resolutions than by committing to take the 52 Ways to Love Your Water Pledge. Sign up for the Project Clean Water Pledge and learn more about the 52-Week Action Plan/Checklist. Practice zero waste living throughout the year by visiting I Love A Clean San Diego’s blog on Zero Waste New Year’s Resolutions and participating in their January 19th Celebrate Sustainably: New Year’s Resolutions Webinar.
The County wishes all its residents a very happy and pollution-free new year! Learn more about how stormwater pollution is impacting San Diego County and what the County is doing to preserve the beauty of our waterways through its Watershed Protection Program.
|
|
|
|
Find My District
|
|
ONLINE SERVICES
Report Stormwater Pollution
Report observed pollution to the correct jurisdiction.
Citizen Access Portal
Research property information and permits. Apply for some permits online.
GIS Maps
Find property information including zoning designation with our web-based mapping tool.
Watershed Protection Website
sandiegocounty.gov/stormwater
Project Clean Water efforts are focused on providing a centralized point of access to water quality information and resources for San Diego County Watersheds. Click HERE to visit Project Clean Water’s website.
|
|
|
|
