WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS
Prevent Runoff Pollution During the Summer Gardening Season
Summer gardening season is right around the corner, which means more summer watering activity! More watering can also mean more opportunities for irrigation runoff to pick up pollutants like trash and yard waste, pet waste, soil and sediment, fertilizers, and pesticides and carry them into our storm drain system. Unlike our sanitary sewer system, water that enters our storm drain system is not treated. If we’re not careful, these pollutants can end up in our local waterways and beaches, harming aquatic life and impacting the quality of our water.
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Two of the most helpful things you can do to prevent runoff pollution from entering our storm drains are managing your irrigation and outdoor watering practices and routinely monitoring and maintaining your sprinkler system. Read on for specific tips.
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Irrigation Management – Protect waterways from pollution by keeping runoff from leaving your property. Adjust sprinkler heads to spray only on your landscape and not on driveways, streets, or sidewalks. Water in the early morning or late evening when it’s cooler outside to allow water to absorb into the soil, and avoid watering within 48 hours of a measurable rainfall event. Use a watering calculator to receive customized watering schedules for your landscape and an irrigation controller to preset watering times to minimize water waste. For more information on how you can best utilize your timer, check out the County of San Diego’s video on Stormwater Best Management Practices for Irrigation Controllers and Timers.
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Sprinkler Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance – Inspect your irrigation system for misaligned or broken sprinklers and other outdoor water leaks. An irrigation system with a small hole about the thickness of a dime can waste about 6,300 gallons of water per month. Fix any broken sprinklers or outdoor leaks immediately in order to save water and prevent pollutants from leaving your property through water runoff. For tips on fixing and maintaining your irrigation system, check out the County of San Diego’s Check After You Mow brochure and video on Stormwater Best Management Practices for Irrigation Repair. For simple steps and tips to sprinkler maintenance, watch a brief video on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Sprinkler Spruce-Up Program, and use their handy Find It, Flag It, Fix It: A Checklist for Your Landscape For more involved repair work, consult a local irrigation professional certified by a WaterSense labeled program.
Thank you for doing your part to prevent runoff and protect our waterways. You can further commit to cleaner waterways and healthy communities throughout the County of San Diego by supporting Project Clean Water’s Keep Runoff in Check Campaign and taking advantage of the available rebates for smart-irrigation controllers through the Waterscape Rebate Program.
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Find My District
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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
Learn more about available water quality rebates that you could apply to your property!
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.
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