WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS

From Roadways to Waterways: A Clear Path to Water Pollution Prevention Trash that is littered along our roadways can have serious consequences. Not only is it unsightly and can cause traffic hazards, it can also wind up blocking our storm drain inlets or entering our storm drain system. Any trash or harmful pollutants from our roadways that enter our storm drain system will flow to streams, rivers, lakes, and eventually the ocean without being treated. Thankfully, there are significant efforts happening at the Statewide and County levels, as well as actions we can take individually, to manage roadside litter and preserve the quality of our waterways. Statewide and County Efforts There are many sources of trash on our roadways, which have a significant impact on our waterways. Each year, the County’s Department of Public Works crews remove more than 1,300 tons of litter along County-maintained roadways. Below are a few of the most important efforts being made at the State and County levels to tackle roadway litter and debris and reduce the impact on stormwater pollution. At the State level, the Clean California Public Education Plan focuses on cleaning up trash and debris statewide and beautifying public areas along highways, streets and roads. Part of that effort includes the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Adopt-a-Highway Program which provides an avenue for individuals, organizations, or businesses to help maintain sections of roadside within California's State Highway System. At the County level, there are further efforts focused on keeping County roads clean. The County’s Adopt-a-Road Program designates two-mile road sections that can be ‘adopted’ for litter removal by businesses or community groups. And the County’s Watershed Protection Program is responsible for keeping all types of pollutants off of our roadways and out of our waterways to protect our water quality.

Individual Actions

As travelers on our roads, we play an important role in preventing litter to preserve our water resources. Here are some small actions we can take.

• Be mindful when traveling with trash. Clean out your vehicle and truck beds regularly to prevent debris from falling out and reaching our storm drain system. Properly dispose of trash and recycling items using a litter bag in your car, or in a covered waste or recycling receptacle at home or at a gas station. Secure your load with tarps and tie-downs or a cargo net. According to Caltrans, most of the litter on roads comes from loads that are unproperly tarped or tied down, so be sure to double check that everything is secure before you hit the road. Learn more tips from the Port of San Diego’s Traveling with Trash Video.

• Properly dispose of large trash items and vegetation piles. Take large items, such as appliances, mattresses and furniture, and large quantities of yard waste to an authorized disposal site or household hazardous waste collection facility. Check with your waste hauler to see if they have curbside pickup for large items. And remember, it is a violation of the County’s Watershed Protection Ordinance (WPO) to illegally dump trash or allow other sources of pollution to enter our storm drain system. Report pollution and trash dumping here.
• Learn about the top 6 sources of stormwater pollution and how to prevent them from entering our waterways. Remember, roadway trash and litter are just some of the pollutants that travel through our storm drains and impact our waterways.
• Get involved in community cleanup events throughout the County by checking out this link to our special events bulletin for August 2024.. With 80% of water pollution beginning inland and flowing downstream through our storm drain system into our local waterways and ocean, it’s critical to be mindful of the impact of roadway litter on our water quality.

In addition to keeping roadways clean to prevent stormwater pollution, the County of San Diego strives to enhance our overall green infrastructure within unincorporated communities to help reduce urban runoff, improve water quality, and provide a variety of related community benefits. Learn more about the County’s Green Streets Clean Water Plan.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

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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.