Clean Water. Healthy Community. It's a team effort!
Category: Green Infrastructure
Flows To Bay is launching a pilot rain barrel program to encourage County residents and businesses to save money and water by offering low-cost, high-quality 50-gallon rain barrels. Flows To Bay is a program of the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County (C/CAG). Through the stormwater program, C/CAG helps fund the countywide rain barrel rebate program in partnership with the Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) and member water agencies.
California is experiencing ongoing drought conditions, and San Mateo County is included in the declared State of Emergency. In July, Governor Newsom issued an executive order asking all Californians to voluntarily reduce their water use by 15% compared to 2020 levels. While there are currently no mandatory water use restrictions or drought surcharges in effect, Flows To Bay wants to increase the use of rain barrels as a low-cost, easy to maintain, and effective water capture and conservation strategy.
By capturing rainwater during the upcoming wet winter months, rain barrels help cut back potable water used for irrigation and can help mitigate future drought conditions by providing storage for drier months. For every inch of rain that falls on a 500 square foot roof area, a rain barrel can collect 310 gallons. With an average annual rainfall of 25 inches in San Mateo County, the savings can add up!
“This program is an important step toward conserving and protecting clean water in our community. Rainwater is a precious resource, and we have to start treating it like one.”
Marie Chuang, Chair of the C/CAG Board of Directors and Councilmember, Town of Hillsborough
Partnering with Rain Water Solutions to acquire barrels in bulk directly from the manufacturer allows Flows To Bay to offer barrels at $80 each (pre-tax)—a significantly reduced price below the retail amount—making installing a rain barrel at home a much easier and more accessible option for anyone living in San Mateo County. Qualifying applicants can also apply for the countywide rebate, further reducing the unit price for all residents. With the discount and rebate program, residents in BAWSCA participating member agency service areas could essentially receive a rain barrel for free.Learn how much of a rebate your qualify for here.
Beyond the water conservation and financial benefits, capturing rainwater also improves the water quality of our local creeks, the San Francisco Bay, and the Pacific Ocean. Rainfall funnels into streets, collecting urban pollutants from all surfaces, including roofs. These pollutants then flow into storm drains and nearby waterways without treatment. Runoff is the number one source of pollution in our waterways nationwide.
“Preventing rainwater from flowing off properties and into the streets and storm drains is a win-win environmental strategy for restoring the health of our coastal waters,” said Reid Bogert, C/CAG Stormwater Program Specialist.
“While our cities are doing a lot to prevent pollution, residents can join the cause one barrel at a time to manage rainwater on their properties. A single rain barrel is small in scale compared to the amount of rain San Mateo County receives in a wet season. Still, if everyone is empowered to help restore our coastal environments, the cumulative impact will be considerable.”
Order rain barrels now through October 31, 2021 or until supplies last. After being purchased, rain barrels can be picked up at the distribution event on Saturday, November 13th, at the City of San Mateo Public Works Department located at 1949 Pacific Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94403, from 9 am to 12 pm.
As we head into the rainy season, we’ll be getting opportunities to harvest the bounty of rainwater that falls on our beautiful county. And while the average rain barrel may only be able to store a fraction of the water that runs off your roof in a heavy storm, they are part of a movement that we see as critical to make San Mateo County resilient in the face of climate change. The movement we’re talking about is the large-scale adoption of Green Infrastructure as a way to mitigate water pollution and flooding. Check out some of the science on the benefits of green infrastructure in the face of climate change from a study in the Chesapeake Bay area, here.
While there are more and more public green infrastructure projects cropping up in communities around, rain barrels are one of the cost-effective ways everyday water-wise heroes can help adapt to the weather-related impacts of climate change! Keep reading to understand how.
What Are Rain Barrels?
Rain barrels are used to collect rainwater from hard surfaces, such as rooftops, and store it for later use. They are a low-cost system that allows you to supplement your water supply with a sustainable source and help preserve local watersheds by detaining rainfall. When you install a rain barrel at your home you are helping to maintain a healthy urban watershed by reducing the volume of stormwater runoff from your property and cutting back your demand for potable water to irrigate your garden.
Are Rain Barrels A Good Option For Me?
Rain barrels and cisterns are appropriate for sites with the following characteristics:
Roof areas that drain to downspouts or that can be linked to a rain barrel via a rain chain.
A level, firm surface to support a rain barrel to prevent shifting or falling over. A full 55-gallon rain barrel will weigh over 400 lbs.
A landscaped area where captured water can be used (and where it can be drained by gravity flow) located within a reasonable distance but sufficiently far from a foundation.
A landscaped area or safe path to the storm drain.
The Countywide Rain Barrel Rebate
Effective July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.
In partnership with Flows To Bay, Bay Area Water Supply Conservation Agency and participating member agencies are offering rebates of up to $200 per rain barrel for the purchase and installation of qualifying rain barrels depending on their size.
ALL RESIDENTS of San Mateo County are eligible to receive the following rebate amounts from Flows To Bay, the San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program:
Rain Barrel Size
Rebate Amount*
50-99 gallon capacity
$50
100-199 gallon capacity
$100
200+ gallon capacity
$150
*Limit of two rebates per single-family residential account or four rebates per multi-family resident or commercial account
Residents of the below areas receive an additional $50 from their member agencies:
City of Brisbane/Guadalupe Valley Municipal Improvement District
City of Burlingame
City of Millbrae
City of Redwood City
City of San Mateo
Mid-Peninsula Water District
North Coast County Water District
Rain Barrel Size
Rebate Amount*
50-99 gallon capacity
$100
100-199 gallon capacity
$150
200+ gallon capacity
$200
*Limit of two rebates per single-family residential account or four rebates per multi-family resident or commercial account. Rebate amounts for for residents of the cities of Brisbane/Guadalupe Valley MID, Burlingame, Millbrae, Redwood City, and San Mateo as well as residents services by the Mid-Peninsula Water District and North Coast County Water District.
Rain Barrel Requirements & Rebate Program Checklist
All of the following must be true to be able to qualify and receive your rain barrel rebate.
I installed a newly purchased rain barrel in San Mateo County.
My rain barrel is a minimum size of 50 gallons, and designed for the intended purpose of rain capture.
My barrel has a secure lid for child safety and either rust-proof screening or a sealed design for vector control (mosquito, rodent) and debris control.
My barrel is algae and UV-resistant or I am using specially constructed sun barriers.
The rain barrel is installed in accordance with the program requirements, as noted in the installation requirements.
I completely filled out and signed my application.
I enclosed a copy of the original rain barrel receipt with my rebate application.
I included two post-installation photos with my rebate application.
I installed my rain barrel and mailed the application within 90 days of purchase.
To Qualify For The Rain Barrel Rebate Program
Rain barrel must be installed in San Mateo County.
If applicant is not the property owner and/or is not listed on the water service account, applicant must provide the property owner/account holder’s contact information.
The rain barrel rebate application must be postmarked within 90 days of rain barrel purchase date.
A copy of the original rain barrel purchase receipt must be included with the application. If applicant submits original receipt(s) and needs them returned, they must enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope with their application.
All rebates are subject to availability of funds.
Post-installation inspection may be required at the discretion of the Participating Agency or the local mosquito and vector control agency.
Post-installation photos must be included with the application. At least two clear photos of each barrel, taken from at least two directions, must be submitted, showing downspout connections, secured lid and overflow valve, and an 8-1/2 x 11 sheet showing the date and water account number.
BAWSCA and the local water agencies reserve the right to deny a rebate to any applicant that does not meet the program requirements.
Rain Barrel Rebate Installation Requirements
Rain barrel must be connected to a rain gutter downspout, rain chain, or other effective means of capturing concentrated flow from roofs or other impervious surfaces.
Rain barrel must not be connected to the potable water system and collected rainwater must be utilized via a hose or bucket only.
Rain barrel must be placed on a solid and level foundation, such as concrete pad, pavers, or bricks for appropriate stability.
Rain barrel must not block or restrict access to walkways or pathways, which may become a safety/ emergency access issue.
Overflow pipe from rain barrels must be directed away from buildings and/or adjacent properties and may flow to landscape (preferred).
Copper materials (including downspouts) are not allowed due to potential leaching concerns.
Rain barrel must be maintained for a minimum of three years upon receipt of rebate, including ongoing maintenance to ensure that the barrel does not become a breeding site for mosquitoes and thereby a public health threat.
Manufacturer’s installation and maintenance instructions must be followed.
Participants must allow BAWSCA and San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program to reference the project and use photos submitted with the application in outreach materials, and must respond to minimal requests for information about the project for purposes of Program reporting.
Rain Barrel Rebate Program Terms & Conditions
Rebates are distributed on a first come, first serve basis until all funds are expended or through the program expiration date of June 30, 2021, which ever comes first.
All residents of San Mateo County are eligible for the base rebate amounts of $50 (for a 50-99 gallon barrel), $100 (for a 100-199 gallon barrel), and $150 (for a 200+ gallon barrel) which are funded by Flows To Bay, the San Mateo Countywide Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program, a program of the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County. Rebates are for the amounts listed above or the total cost of the rain barrel, excluding sales tax, whichever is less.
Rain barrels must be installed on properties in or be serviced by the following cities or districts: Brisbane/Guadalupe Valley Municipal Improvement District, Burlingame, Daly City, Millbrae, North Coast County Water District, Redwood City, City of San Mateo, and Mid-Peninsula Water District.
Limit of two rebates per single-family residential account or four rebates per multi-family resident or commercial account. For questions regarding rebates in excess of these limits, contact BAWSCA at (650) 349-3000 or email bawsca@bawsca.org.
For self-made rain barrel systems, the rebate amount may be applied to the costs (before sales tax) associated with the purchase of accompanying accessories/hardware necessary for installing a rain barrel or modifying a downspout to connect a barrel (does not apply to new or replaced gutters or downspouts).
Rebates may take up to eight (8) weeks to process.
Rebates are issued as checks or as credits to the customer’s water service account.
Apply For The Rain Barrel Rebate
There are 2 ways to apply for the rain barrel rebate program, online and via a paper application. For the fastest rebate, please apply online!
Flows To Bay is working with BlueBarrel Rain Water Catchment Systems to provide San Mateo Residents a 10% discount off purchases in their online store using discount code FlowsToBay.
BlueBarrel’s unique expandable and affordable system will allow you to select a system size that’s perfect for you. Each barrel captures up to 55 gallons of water making it easy for your to get the most out of the San Mateo County Rain Barrel rebate.
California appears to be on a collision course with climate change-related precipitation impacts.
At times, we may see extended periods of drought (like the seven-year dry spell from 2011-2017). Or, conversely, we may be hit by seemingly endless bouts of thick veils of rain. Likely, we’ll experience a mix of conditions and with less and less predictability as the climate continues to show signs of destabilization under various extremes linked with an overall warming trend and evermore greenhouse gases filling the atmosphere.
A new UCLA study published in the journal Science Advances, and featured in a San Francisco Chronicle article, showed we can expect as much as 40% more precipitation (in the form of rain and snow) in the Sierras and increased local rainfall in the Bay Area by as much as 20-30%. According to the study, large channels of airborne moisture drawn off of the oceans, aptly named “atmospheric rivers,” are due to become bigger and more intense, causing a drastic increase in precipitation in the coming years.
In short—“Oh, it surely looks like rain” (to borrow the Grateful Dead’s lyrics).
Green stormwater infrastructure (or GSI), such as in the Burlingame example pictured above, include specialized landscapes that help capture, store and clean urban runoff before it filters back into the ground or flows into nearby waterways. The Sustainable Streets Master Plan is primarily a countywide planning effort to identify high priority opportunities for linking GSI with transportation improvements, such as enhanced crossings at busy intersections, and to match opportunities with funding and implementation mechanisms to help get projects built. But the Sustainable Streets Master Plan takes the current thinking around green infrastructure for stormwater management a step further by modeling how rainfall and urban runoff patterns will likely change with the effects of climate change.
This plan considers a suite of factors to help rank project opportunities with an eye towards building safer, more resilient and comfortable streets. Opportunities are ranked higher or lower depending on things like whether a sustainable street project could protect against future flooding, reduce urban heat island impacts, fill gaps in urban vegetation, support water quality objectives and address issues of equity. The project also quantifies future runoff conditions to build the case for using GSI to adapt to climate change impacts from more intense rainfall.
A key aspect of the project is to model the impacts of future climate change, quantify those impacts, and determine the projected benefit of building more GSI to safeguard against increased rainfall.
Similar to the results from the UCLA modeling on atmospheric rivers, the modeling done in San Mateo County shows predicted increases in large storms, both in terms of the size and the frequency. With a focus on adapting streets to future precipitation impacts, the modeling was further refined on a watershed basis to specifically quantify changes in roadway-associated runoff. The modeling predicts elevated roadway runoff for all modeled storm sizes, including 2-, 5-, 10-, 20-, 50- and 100-year storm events. For reference, a theoretical 2-year storm, and the associated volume of rainfall associated with that storm size, has a statistical probability of occurring once every two years, or said another way, a 50% chance of occurring in any given year.
Even for smaller storms like a theoretical 10-year storm (the typical storm size used in engineering designs for stormwater infrastructure such as pipes and pump stations), we are likely to see increases in runoff depths of up to 25% around the county under future conditions.
Large storms, such as 50- or 100-year storms—predicted to occur once or twice a century—could dump significantly more rain than their historical counterparts. During one of these future behemoth storms, local communities could see upwards of 50% increases in stormwater runoff.
If three inches of rain (which is a large storm by any measure in the Bay Area) is enough to cause serious flooding now—just imagine what six inches could look like!
These results are nothing to take lightly, especially as storms become more intense and potentially longer in duration. Not to mention the possible complications of sea level rise, periodic extreme heat, increased risk of wildfire at the urban-wildlife interface, etc., all of which could lead to a “perfect storm” of climate change-related hazards.
Another recent study, this one out of Stanford and also reported on in the San Francisco Chronicle, paints a similarly unfortunate picture of future Bay Area traffic and commute delays, caused in this case by rising seas. Add a storm surge to just 12 inches of sea level rise (which could easily be the reality within a few decades) and communities in the North Bay in particular could be stuck with an additional 30 minutes or more of gridlock due to roadway flooding.
All this sounds pretty dire, right? There’s an upside. The Sustainable Streets Master Plan also looks at the benefit in terms of water managed by GSI projected to be built by the year 2040 for the purposes of improving water quality in San Francisco Bay, and it’s promising to see that for future scenarios, planned green infrastructure may help lessen the burden of bigger deluges. As shown in the chart below, planned green infrastructure could potentially manage most—or even all—additional runoff predicted for smaller storm events when accounting for climate change.
The big caveat here is that GSI can be expensive to build and maintain, especially without local dedicated funding. Urban greening, however, seems to be garnering broad support among communities region-wide, which can help with future funding initiatives.
As San Mateo County plans for the future now, it is dedicating resources to take action with adaptive solutions. A major step towards greater resiliency was the formation of the San Mateo Flood and Sea Level Rise Resiliency District, OneShoreline, last year. OneShoreline is charged with addressing future impacts from sea level rise, flooding, coastal erosion and regional-scale stormwater issues. The County has also made major strides with its Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment and the follow-on adaptation planning work under the Climate Ready SMC campaign. The Sustainable Streets Master Plan, led by C/CAG and the San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program, is also advancing climate adaption by identifying linkages between transportation planning and prime opportunities to manage stormwater more sustainably, with a focus on adapting to the much larger storms of the future. Read more about green streets and the Sustainable Street Master Plan here. If you’re interested in staying informed on the progress of the Sustainable Streets Masterplan, please make sure to sign up for e-newsletter here. Have questions or thoughts about anything mentioned here? We would love to hear from you! Contact us today.
The California Resilience Challenge is first-of-its-kind statewide initiative of the Bay Area Council and a diverse array of partners. It recently awarded $2 million in planning grants to 12 statewide innovative projects in communities across the state to address the growing impacts of climate change, including drought, floods, wildfires and sea-level rise.
One of these winners includes Flows To Bay parent agency, the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County (C/CAG).
San Mateo County is one of California’s most flood-prone coastal regions. Increased precipitation and associated impacts of runoff related to climate change are anticipated to be serious concerns for communities across San Mateo County in future decades. Widespread implementation of green infrastructure will provide a measurable benefit to address the increased storm intensities and runoff volumes. Historically, schools have been left out of municipal stormwater planning due to their separate governance structures and site review processes.
Recognizing this gap in the overall strategy of managing stormwater, C/CAG will develop concept plans to integrate green stormwater infrastructure into nine campuses in the San Carlos School District (SCSD).These plans will reduce and capture runoff for beneficial use on the school sites, minimize downstream flooding concerns, and build resiliency for urban heat island impacts through reduction in asphalt surfaces and incorporation of tree canopy and vegetation.
“Schools provide a significant and largely missed opportunity for integrating green stormwater infrastructure into the urban landscape in San Mateo County due to their large parcels and imperviousness that generate large volumes of stormwater runoff,” said Matt Fabry, Manager of the San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program. “By creating green schoolyard concepts, C/CAG and the SCSD will take an important step forward by constructing more resilient schools that capture, use, infiltrate, and clean stormwater runoff and protect downstream communities in San Francisco Bay.”
In addition to creating a more resilient environment, the project presents an exciting opportunity for environmental education and community engagement. The approach to planning and constructing project features will have students, families and community members involved each step of the way.
“Teachers from all levels and disciplines will be able to find curricular connections, including environmental monitoring and science, horticulture, art/theater, literature, history and social studies. The emphasis will be on how to inspire students to become resilient leaders in their studies and experiences at school and within their communities by connecting to stewardship and caring for their new campus features,” explained Fabry.
These concept plans would demonstrate the potential for other San Mateo County school districts (23 total) to follow suit.
Special thanks to California Resilience Challenge funders PG&E, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Valley Water, Metropolitan Water District, Southern California Edison, Resources Legacy Fund, Alaska Airlines, SFPUC, SD Bechtel Jr. Foundation, and Pillsbury; and special thanks to Advisory Committee members AECOM, Pillsbury, Climate Resolve, Environmental Defense Fund, Ceres, and the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. To learn more about the California Resilience Challenge, please contact Policy Associate Anna Sciaruto.
Dee Harley, owner of Harley Farms Goat Dairy in Pescadero, relies on water for her goats and the edible flowers she grows to adorn her delicious cheeses.
Dee proactively turned to rainwater harvesting as a conservation practice to save water and protect her animals and plants during future droughts. She collects rainwater from two downspouts that are connected to the roof of the barn her goats sleep in. The water is then transported into two, 6,000-gallon cisterns that are located in the center of Harley Farms Goat Dairy. Together, they collect 40,000 gallons of water for use every year. When Flows To Bay asked Dee about the farm and her experience of the last drought, she enthusiastically supported harvesting rainwater, saying, “catching rainwater is easy! Any form of water conservation is helpful and anyone can do it. Even catching a small amount from a shed roof is worth it as a contribution.”
The rainy season is the one wonderful time of year where your garden can thrive with little to no water input (given it’s a normal water year). As long as rain keeps the soil moist, seedlings will grow without a hose! And when it is dry for a week or two, there’s the option of having a trusty rain barrel nearby dutifully capturing all the water that falls on your roof!
If you haven’t already heard us sing the praises of rain barrels, rain barrels are low-cost, come in a variety of shapes and sizes (from subsidized 50-gallon barrels to 10,000-gallon cisterns), and allow you to supplement your water supply with a sustainable source to help reduce the burden on local watersheds! When added together, small decentralized stormwater management practices can make a big cumulative difference to the resiliency of a watershed.
Flows To Bay has partnered with the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) to provide a rebate that will cover up to $100 of the cost of a new rain barrel, depending on where you reside. If that’s not enough, we’ve also partnered with Hassett ACE Hardware to offer an additional 20% off the purchase of select rain barrels and accessories — just show this flier at checkout! And of course, once you purchase and install your barrel, make sure to tag it on our map so we can keep track of the rain barrel movement!
We often experience streets from behind the wheel—as potholes, traffic jams, accidents, and sudden jolts to accommodate wayward travelers. But a historic focus on streets as “transportation corridors” has often come at the expense of the pedestrian. While our streets grew wider, crosswalk timers got shorter. “Complete Streets” were the first answer to this problem, designed to enhance the safety and experience of all users of the road, and of all ages and abilities. But while designing streets with an eye to the pedestrian was a good first step, these streets often fell short of the maximum benefit they could provide if they were further designed to help our environment. Enter sustainable Streets: the next evolution of the complete street.
Did you know streets and roads are a major part of delivering stormwater (and the pollution it carries) from our communities into local waters, including the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean? Sustainable Streets provide safe mobility and access to all users with the added benefit of Green Infrastructure, which collects and cleans runoff at its source, reduces flooding, and protects our creeks, the Bay, and Ocean from runoff pollution. Of course, greening streets also adds to the quality and comfort of our urban habitats and supports a more resilient future for our communities as we face unpredictable weather related to climate change.
See the transformation of a normal street to a complete street, and finally to a sustainable street, in the below illustrations.
Standard Street:
Complete Street:
Sustainable Streets:
Recent vulnerability assessments have shown that we, in San Mateo County, are among the most likely communities to be affected by sea level rise impacts related to climate change in California. With this in mind, and with greater attention toward creating healthier and safer places to live in our county, the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County is developing a Sustainable Streets Master Plan (SSMP). The plan seeks to engage the San Mateo community to plan for and prioritize street improvements that will provide water quality, flood reduction, and community benefits throughout the county in the face of the changing climate. Want an example of what this might look like? Cities around the County have already experimented with Green Infrastructure as part of the movement towards Sustainable Streets—check out these efforts in San Bruno and Burlingame.
While the Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program is spearheading this effort, the SSMP is not a document, it’s a process. We’re on our way to building Sustainable Streets in San Mateo County, but we want your feedback! Help us reimagine your neighborhood streets to include trees, sidewalk plantings, bioswales, intersection enhancements, flood control measures, and other street features that will create more vibrant communities in San Mateo!
Flows To Bay recently held a “Water-Wise” photo contest to gather photographs of fantastic DIY water-related projects in San Mateo County (SMC). We received a lot of great submissions that highlighted a range of ways people in SMC are thinking about mitigating stormwater pollution and conserving our precious water resources. Check out some of these great home projects at the bottom of this blog!
Seeing these creative commitments to our local environment (from Bay to ocean) got us thinking about what it means to be “water-wise,” and how we can be inspired by what early adopters are already doing, and in some cases have been doing for many years. How many of us actually think about the “story of water” — where does it comes from, where does it go, and how do our behaviors affect water quality? Over the past month, we’ve learned that water-wisdom comes in all shapes and sizes. Read on to learn about how to become more water-wise at home this spring, and check out the great inspirational examples provided by SMC residents.
1) Succulent Heaven. Have you ever seen a golf course pond? Though these water basins may seem refreshing from a distance (or while out on the green), large artificially landscaped areas like this are not so water-wise. These ponds can be full of fertilizers which damage our waterways by creating algae blooms that starve the surrounding water of oxygen through a process known as eutrophication. They also require a lot of water use, which golf courses are notorious for.
Not to call out golf courses as the only offender of course! On the whole, they just happen to make a case in point. Yet, any yard that uses fertilizers has the potential to contribute to the destructive process of eutrophication, and lawns in particular (requiring enormous inputs of both fertilizer and water to stay lush) are a primary culprit. Choosing lawn grasses that are native to California is a good water-wise move because they require way fewer applications of fertilizers and pesticides than the non-native grass species you might find in a run-of-the-mill grass mix at the local hardware store. And as we’ve written about previously, pesticides are one of the top four big water pollutants in our County.
Feeling tired of your lawn and all the care it requires? If that’s the case you might want to scratch the grass altogether and consider a succulent garden. Not only are succulents pretty and quirky, but they are very hardy plants that can flourish in both the rainy and dry seasons. They grow quickly and even make great gifts! Take a succulent clipping, put it in a can with some dirt, and chances are it’ll start to root! If you need some help planning a succulent garden, you might want to attend one of BAWSCA’s many free workshops happening all the time. Note: not all succulents are supportive of local habitats, and many are non-native species that can become a nuisance when left uncontrolled. Consider a local variety of the Dudleya genus. Also known as “Rock Lettuce,” this fantastic native will thrive in your yard and coexist happily with its plant neighbors.
2. Harvest Season. Another way to be water-wise and decrease your water usage during the dry season is to install a water catchment system, like a rain barrel. SMC has a great rain barrel rebate available, and many people (including Ray from San Bruno!) have taken advantage of it. But even if you haven’t found the time to purchase a rain barrel at the hardware store and participate in the rebate program, when it comes to conserving water, sometimes the simplest solutions are the best for getting started. For example, Remy, a resident of Daly City, collects rainwater in recycled buckets to water his houseplants, and Sybille, of Menlo Park, collects excess water while her shower is heating up. That extra bucket of cold water that would otherwise be wasted becomes the perfect water resource for plants in the yard (during the dry season), or a great supplement for the cat’s water bowl. The possibilities!
3. Washwater Waste. While the bucket you’ve been using to clean paint brushes out back might not seem like a big deal, when taken together, small amounts of water pollution can have a large impact on our local waters and wildlife. So, when involved in any process outside that could generate polluted water when it rains (e.g. painting, surface cleaning/power-washing, hand-washing cars, applying pesticides or fertilizers, etc.) we have to be very careful about where that water ends up. Nothing other than rainwater should be going down the storm drain. The good news is that there are plenty of preventative, water-wise steps we can take to completely avoid these potential water-polluting scenarios in the first place.
The best thing we can do for the environment for most wash water is to collect and dispose of it in a toilet or another drain that’s connected to the sanitary sewer. If there’s no sewer connection available, dumping water in an area with gravel or grass will allow some natural filtering of the water to occur by plants and microorganisms before it rejoins the water table (this is especially useful for things like washing cars or pets at home). If you hire someone else to paint your home or work on your property, chances are they’re already familiar with best practices, but it never hurts to ask and you can always check out this list of contractors who have completed stormwater prevention trainings to find someone Bay-friendly! Remember: what gets into storm drains flows straight to local creeks, the ocean and the Bay without and treatment. Check out the County of San Mateo’s Household Hazardous Waste website for more information on proper disposal of potentially hazardous wastes.
4. Wanna go to the beach? Let’s face it, while there are many ways we can change our own behaviors to be more water-wise and to limit our personal contribution to water pollution in the future, our lands and waters are already feeling the impact, and so are we. Last year, four out of the 10 beaches listed on Heal the Bay’s “Beach Bummers” list for having the poorest water quality in California were located in SMC. Beach and shore cleanups are a great way to give back to the ocean we so often use, and there are lots of organizations like the Surfrider Foundation and Sea Huggers in and around San Mateo County that regularly host cleanup events. Even if you don’t have time to attend an official cleanup, taking a spare paper bag to the beach (or even around your neighborhood) and picking up a few pieces of trash is always a good call. Who knows, you might just be the domino that leads to an impromptu cleanup event!
While this blog only details a few ways that you can help curb ocean and Bay pollution this spring, as you can see, being water-wise is not a one-size-fits-all kind of shoe. All it really takes to protect the beautiful ecosystems we have in SMC is a little bit of care and a community to help you along the way.
Have you, or anyone you know, done something that we should be talking about? Please share! You can always reach out to us on Facebook, or email us at info@flowstobay.org.
Notable Water-Wise Photo Contest Submissions
Sybille, Menlo Park
HW, Brisbane
Ray, San Bruno
Remy, Daly City
Jen, Redwood City
Doug, Half Moon Bay
Sue, South San Francisco
Julia, Redwood City
We hear a lot about the sources of “water pollution” in the Bay Area and beyond—whether it’s pesticides and fertilizers from lawns and farmland coming down the creek, an industrial site spilling chemicals into the bay or ocean, or older vehicles that leak motor oil and other fluids onto the street—the potential for pollution is everywhere. But what chemicals are we actually talking about when we talk about “stormwater pollution,” and how might they affect us? These are the questions that often remain a mystery. Keep reading to find answers as we explain which pollutants are most common and hazardous to the Bay, how they got there, and what we’re going to do about it.
1) Mercury. It’s a planet, it’s what makes that old thermometer work, and it can also be found in that beautiful piece of striped bass you just bought at Whole Foods (and many other large-species fish for that matter).
While the Bay is slowly cleaning itself and washing an estimated 3,100 pounds of mercury a year out to sea, roughly 2,000 pounds of mercury enter the SF Bay each year from stormwater and other sources. At this speed, it will take generations for the bay to purge itself fully.
Depending on the weather, mercury can be transported from just a few feet away to halfway around the globe — today it mostly comes from the emissions of local oil refineries, cement kilns, coal burning power plants and forest fires. Once it lands in our waterways, bacteria convert it to methylmercury which is taken up by plants and then moves into the organisms that eat them. As it travels up the food chain its concentration in individual animals increases in a process called “biomagnification.”
Why should seafood lovers be wary of the presence of mercury in different kinds of fish? Because mercury is toxic in tiny concentrations! A single drop in a backyard swimming pool (the equivalent of about 1 part per billion) is more than enough to cause permanent damage. In humans, mercury may cause tremors, problems with vision, and damage to the central nervous system. Studies also reveal developmental problems in wildlife.
2) PCBs. “P-C-Whats?,” you ask. PCBs, or Polychlorinated Biphenyls (if you want more of a mouthful), are chlorine-impregnated oils which were once widely used in industrial applications for heat transfer and coolant, and in carbonless copy paper, among other uses. While the production of PCBs was banned by Congress in 1979 when people found out how bad they were, they are still used today in electrical transformers.
PCBs represent what are known as “legacy pollutants”—contaminants that were released into the land, air and water from past industrial activities (sometimes many decades ago), that still have a negative impact today.
In the Bay, most PCBs are found in the bottom sediment and travel the same path as mercury—first accumulating at the base of the food chain, and then passing through larger and larger animals until eventually getting into our own diet.
High levels of PCBs specifically harm the liver, digestive tract, and nerves, and can also affect development and reproduction, and the immune system. Unsurprisingly, they have also been found to cause cancer.
3) Pesticides. Pesticides are marketed to suggest that they target and kill specific “pests.” Unfortunately, the actual footprint pesticides have tends to be much, MUCH larger than you might think.
Bugs that eat pesticide-covered plants can become food for other insects and other animals, causing direct harm to many well-loved Bay Area critters like shorebirds and seals. When it rains, pesticides are often washed off plants and properties, and transported into urban creeks and the ocean, where they begin to take immediate effect. BayKeeper reports that only 91 out of the 100,000+ chemicals—including many chemicals used in pesticides—that have been approved for use in the United States over the past 30 years, are regulated.
Luckily a lot of progress has been made to reduce the use of harmful chemicals in pesticides, but, commonly used pesticides including fipronil and imidacloprid are still in use—even the spot-on flea control which can be so useful for getting rid of fleas and ticks on our pets can be a source of water pollution!
4) Trash. This is the pollutant we are all most familiar with—so we’ll keep it short. Trash affects our waters when animals mistake it for food, and when it traps and ensnares them. It presents an added stress on the aquatic community, and an eye-sore for everyone involved. One way to avoid water pollution is to properly manage your waste bins at home. The quickest way (aside from flat out littering) to cause a trash problem is by overfilling your receptacles. Keeping your trash and recyclables properly sorted and ensuring your bins aren’t overflowing on pick-up day is a sure bet to cleaner streets. You can also go the extra mile and reduce your use of trash-making materials like single-use foodware (i.e., paper plates and napkins), and perhaps even join a local cleanup event. When it rains, that debris will flow to the nearest storm drain, which discharges into the nearest creek, and flows right to the Bay or ocean.
Above: Facebook’s Menlo Park headquarters is topped by a 9-acre green roof, which insulates and conserves energy used to cool the building, while reducing stormwater runoff, and providing habitat for wildlife.
Pollution Solutions!!
While there is no one fix to the stormwater pollution problems we have in San Mateo County, there are some small changes we can make that will have a big impact. Small things like minimizing our pesticide usage, picking up after our pets, properly disposing of our trash, and having conversations about this topic with friends, neighbors and families is a terrific start!
The other thing we can do to reduce stormwater pollution is to reduce the flow of water entering the storm system when it rains. Less water in the system helps reduce the amount of runoff-related pollutants entering our waterways. As residents, you can help by installing rain barrels/cisterns or rain gardens on your property. These “rain-saving” solutions can reduce your runoff footprint and protect our precious water resources. As a county, plans are already underway to implement larger green infrastructure projects like bioretention areas, where greater volumes of water can be collected and filtered through specially designed landscaped areas. Fun Fact: as water moves through the soil, it is naturally filtered by mircroogramisms and plants!
If you’re curious about local green infrastructure projects, you can check our article & blog on green infrastructure, and get updates by signing up for our newsletter!
Let’s continue the conversation.
It’s up to all of us to prevent stormwater pollution, and the time for action is now! Be sure to send us your thoughts at info@flowstobay.org, follow us on Facebook, and look out for our monthly blogs!
With the long dry spell that happens for the better part of the year, some of us may be grateful for the upcoming rainy season. But due to tremendous amounts of urban development throughout the County, rain after a long drought can sometimes be more of a menace than a saving grace.
When the heavy rains come, hillside homes are at risk of erosion and structural issues. Extra rain on roads, roofs, sidewalks and other hard or impervious surfaces can lead to excessive ponding in low-lying elevations, especially in flatter areas of the County. With the unpredictability of future weather events in the face of a changing climate, where storms are more frequent (or sporadic but more intense), the issues are compounded.
Meanwhile, ocean- and Bay-side, we have rising seas to be concerned about. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, 4,100 homes in San Mateo County are at risk of becoming chronically inundated with tidal water by 2045. “Chronic inundation” refers to the slow creep of sea level rise that causes road closures, sends water into basements, and pushes down real estate values while raising insurance premiums. The homes at risk in SMC currently house nearly 10,000 people and are collectively valued at 2.25 billion dollars.
Fortunately, there are actions we can take to not only help mitigate the effects of flooding, but also improve water quality and enhance neighborhoods. Say hello to green infrastructure.
What Is Green Infrastructure?
Green Infrastructure (GI) is infrastructure that uses vegetation, soils, and natural processes to manage water and create healthier urban environments. GI comes in many different forms, but all include resilient, sustainable systems that slow, filter, harvest, infiltrate and/or evapotranspirate rainwater, all in an effort to reduce the potential consequences of too much water on the landscape.
In 2019, the 20 towns and cities plus the County of San Mateo will be adopting Green Infrastructure Plans to layout a strategy for managing stormwater more sustainably using green infrastructure. These plans will create new policies and identify community priorities to guide green stormwater infrastructure projects over the coming decades. Keep reading to learn about different GI examples and the ways in which they can help mitigate flooding and improve water quality.
1.) Permeable surfaces. Even though our Public Works departments are diligent about keeping storm drains free of debris, a single blocked drain can cause serious problems and exacerbate flooding. One solution is to ensure storm drains stay clean of trash, litter, sediment, and foliage. But another solution is to increase the amount of permeable ground cover which would allow more water to soak into the ground instead of running off and flowing directly into the storm drain system. An added benefit of permeable surfaces? As water moves through the ground it is cleaned by microorganisms in the soil, which makes it much cleaner than it would have been otherwise when it enters our creeks and flows to the Bay and Pacific Ocean. Interlocking concrete pavers, porous asphalt, and pervious concrete are all examples of these types of permeable paving surfaces.
2.) Rain Gardens and Bioswales. Landscaping features that are used to slow, collect, and filter stormwater are another great way to mitigate flooding while improving water quality. Rain gardens and bioswales (which typically move water through a landscape more than they infiltrate water) are depressed areas of almost any size and shape that are vegetated with plants that can withstand both heavy watering and drought. To ensure optimum performance, rain gardens are mulched with organic and inorganic materials alike (e.g. things like compost and pea gravel) to dissipate the energy of water flowing into them and to keep plants thriving. And much like the before mentioned permeable surfaces, the soil or ground cover used in these systems are designed to filter and clean stormwater before it arrives at larger water bodies.
3.) Cisterns and Rain Barrels.
Beyond designing features that control the way water moves through our neighborhoods, taking advantage of the rain for our own needs at home or business can help curb water pollution and flooding as well. Whether you choose to install a cistern that hold thousands of gallons of rainwater, or a barrel with a maximum capacity of 55 gallons, collecting rainwater prevents runoff by storing it over time and using it as it is needed. When the ground is saturated, the remaining water that can’t get absorbed moves across the top of the ground, picking up pesticides, toxins, trash, and anything else on the ground as it flows. Rain barrels and other rainwater harvesting systems reduce the amount of water that makes it onto the ground in the first place, both reducing stormwater runoff, pollution, and ultimately saving you money on your water bill as the captured rainwater can be used to water your garden, wash your car, or bathe your pets. Click here to learn more about rain barrels and to take advantage of the Countywide rain barrel rebate.
Our Shared Future
Flooding is a real and growing concern in San Mateo county, but some of its effects can be alleviated with some very simple upgrades. Green infrastructure projects are already underway in the County with the support of the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County (C/CAG). C/CAG has already developed a countywide stormwater resource plan and recently received a Caltrans grant to create a Sustainable Streets Master Plan. The master plan aims to prioritize roadways in the county that are prime locations for integrating green infrastructure with other community priorities and planned investments, such as bicycle and pedestrian improvements, pavement maintenance, and utility upgrades. C/CAG also recently awarded $2.1 million to 10 municipalities for integrating green infrastructure with Safe Routes to Schools improvements. These efforts help demonstrate the potential for green infrastructure to build more resilient communities while addressing long-term stormwater issues.
On an individual level, you can help too! Share this blog with your friends, talk to your neighbors about this issue, and ask your city council about green infrastructure projects in your neighborhood. Residents can also take action to protect the health and beauty of our water bodies by picking up after their pets, implementing eco-friendly gardening and auto maintenance practices, participating in the rain barrel rebate program, and properly disposing household hazardous wastes—to name a few. We are also available to answer questions and hear ideas—you can email us at info@flowstobay.org.
If you happen to live in Half Moon Bay or have passed through the historic downtown area on your way to the beach, you may have caught a glimpse of the new Half Moon Bay Library.
The library, which opened on Saturday, August 18, is LEED Silver certified, meaning it’s built to be energy and water efficient, and to improve indoor air quality and visitor comfort through mindfully selected building materials and lots of natural light. In addition to the new amenities for readers and makers of all ages (the library has a special makerspace, including a 3-D printer), the library embodies the natural landscape and feel of the community, and its eco-value extends beyond the walls and vegetated roof.
The City of Half Moon Bay, which funded half of the library’s construction, took the re-build as an opportunity to also create a more sustainable and safer community near the library and adjacent Cunha Middle School. The city did this through the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo (C/CAG) Green Streets Infrastructure and Safe Routs to School Pilot Program.
Half Moon Bay was one of 10 awardees in the county to receive funding to build multi-benefit nature-based infrastructure projects. Funding from a countywide voter-approved vehicle registration fee will help build projects that enhance the safety of intersections and road crossings near schools, while also protecting local waterways from a range of pollutants. Special vegetated “stormwater curb extensions,” as they’re called, capture and absorb urban runoff. Essentially, plants and quick-draining soils do all the work of removing roadway grease and oils, pesticides, sediment and other contaminants as the water percolates through the soil.
These nature-based solutions, dubbed “green infrastructure,” are part of a larger effort throughout the county and the Bay Area to reestablish the natural connection between rainwater and the landscape. Green infrastructure promotes rainwater as a resource for keeping our landscape hydrated and even refilling groundwater aquifers while protecting waterways from pollution.
To this end, C/CAG recently received a $986,300 Caltrans Adaptation Planning grant to develop a countywide sustainable streets master plan. The sustainable streets master plan will help local agencies plan and locate potential projects that address local priorities, including reducing urban heat island impacts, curtailing local flooding and increasing public safety and accessibility.
The library project is the first of 10 projects funded under the C/CAG grant program to be constructed, with the remaining nine slated to be built by December 2019. Next time you’re in Half Moon Bay, be sure to swing by the library and check out the new stormwater curb extensions after perusing the books.
