Water Quality

By Nancy Gardner

Urban runoff is a major source of water pollution. A multi-pronged approach is needed to deal with this problem.

The best way to solve the problem is to stop the water from getting into the storm drains. Because many people are unaware of the problem, the city should take every opportunity to raise awareness not just of the problem but also of the many solutions. Some are as simple as sweeping instead of washing down driveways or adjusting sprinkler heads so that they water only the yard and not the sidewalk. There are also new computer-operated watering systems that take into account the different needs of different parts of yards (turf vs. shrubs) as well as the weather (no sprinkling while it's raining or about to rain). For existing landscaping, the city has pursued grants to help defray installation costs and should continue to do so. For new development, the city needs to strongly encourage the installation of these new systems. At the same time the city needs to set the example with zero runoff from any city property.

The city should study tiered water rates. These have been very effective in curtailing runoff in other cities and at the same time generating a high degree of customer satisfaction. Any system considered needs to be fair in its allocation, taking into consideration the different needs of different areas in the city

Less effective but still important is cleaning up the water before it discharges into the ocean or bay. The city should not be using any pesticides that are harmful to marine life and should make residents aware of products that have a negative impact. Where possible, runoff should be diverted to swales that allow the water to filter through vegetation which removes many of the pollutants. In worst-case scenarios, runoff should be diverted to the sanitation district for discharge through the outfall.

None of these solutions is dramatic, but all are effective and will go a long way toward stopping urban runoff and protecting water quality.