Water Quality (Storm Water Program)

The City of Solana Beach has a comprehensive storm water pollution prevention program.  As mandated by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Order No. 2007-0001 (NPDES Permit) issued by the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), the City is required to prevent and eliminate non-storm water discharges into the City's storm drain system.  Non-compliance with the NPDES Permit can result in heavy fines to the City, up to $10,000 per day per violation.  In order to stay in compliance, the City has a comprehensive program to reduce the amount of pollutants that are allowed to enter the storm drain system.  This is important because storm drains are NOT connected to waste water treatment facilities, so the water that enters them flows directly to creeks, lagoons, and oceans untreated. 

The following are storm water pollutants:

• Oil from vehicles

• Excess pesticides and fertilizer from landscaping

• Bacteria from pet waste

• Sediment from construction and landscaping projects

• Soap from car washing

• Litter

• Lawn and garden debris

• Improperly disposed home improvement debris

JURMP

The City has a Jurisdictional Urban Runoff Management Program (JURMP) that governs the activities and programs implemented to comply with the NPDES Permit.  The JURMP is broken up into the following sections, each with their own set of guidelines and requirements that City staff must adhere to and implement to stay in compliance with the NPDES Permit:

• Development Planning

• Construction

• Municipal

• Industrial and Commercial

• Residential

• Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination

• Education

• Public Participation

• Fiscal Analysis

• Effectiveness Assessment

The City also has responsibilities above and beyond the requirements of the JURMP.  The NPDES Permit requires the City to participate with neighboring jurisdictions and the entire region to develop and implement Watershed programs and a Regional Program.  The City is in two separate watersheds, the Carlsbad Watershed and the San Dieguito Watershed, which each have pollution prevention programs called Watershed Urban Runoff Management Programs (WURMPs).  City staff must develop and implement programs with staff from neighboring jurisdictions and the region to address water pollution on a much larger scale.

To help prevent storm water pollution, please adopt the following practices:

• Dispose all pet waste in a trash can or in the toilet

• Apply fertilizer and pesticides sparingly and according to manufactures direction

• Adjust sprinklers to prevent over-watering

• Wash your car at a commercial car wash

• Maintain automobiles to prevent fluid leaks

• Sweep your hard surfaces (driveways, patios, sidewalks, etc.) and do not use water

• Ensure your contractors are adhering to all storm water regulations, ultimately the property owner can be held liable for work done on property, including fines

 

Channel Maintenance Programmatic Permitting Guide

For a copy of the Channel Maintenance Programmatic Permitting Guide please click here.