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Category: Home Tips

It might be hard to believe, but at one point in time, San Mateo County was a completely undeveloped landscape.

Although our forests, creeks, and shorelines are still immensely beautiful, over time, we have turned much of our natural landscape into a built environment through urban development. In doing so, our ability to capture and utilize rainfall has been diminished. This is a serious challenge for our community because periods of intense storming on developed land often lead to increased stormwater runoff and pollution that can threaten environmental and public health. 

But, what if we could create a balance between nature and urban development? This is the beauty of green infrastructure. It offers a new sustainable approach to how we manage stormwater in our built environment. Keep reading to learn about the many uses of green infrastructure!

An example of what Green Infrastructure can look like at your local park.

Getting Creative with Green Infrastructure

There are many types of green infrastructure and it can be used at different scales, from backyards to sidewalks to entire ecosystems, like wetlands that buffer against tides and erosion. When we refer to green infrastructure as it relates to stormwater management, the focus is on engineered facilities designed to help us capture, store, and treat rain that falls on our buildings, streets, and other areas in our urban environment, using special soils and plants that filter, absorb, and evapotranspire water, mimicking a more natural water cycle.

Check out Flows To Bay’s free Green Infrastructure Video Resources to learn more about green infrastructure in San Mateo County.

City, County, and State-Level Green Infrastructure

At the city or county scale, green infrastructure is a collection of natural areas that provide benefits such as habitat, shade, flood protection, and cleaner air and water (see the Green Infrastructure Factsheet, for a quick overview of the benefits). Examples may include the preservation and restoration of natural landscapes such as wetlands and creeks.

Neighborhood-Level Green Infrastructure

At the neighborhood or property scale, green infrastructure can look like rain gardens, permeable pavements, green roofs, bioswales, trees, and rainwater harvesting systems such as rain barrels and cisterns. These green infrastructure features can be incorporated into schools, yards, new housing developments, parks, streets, sidewalks, parking lots, and nearly anywhere else you can imagine in our urban environment.

Where have you seen green infrastructure in your community?

A sustainable street in Burlingame, CA that can help protect the community from flooding and reduce stormwater runoff.

Green Infrastructure Projects in San Mateo County

Flows to Bay’s Green Infrastructure Story Map features green infrastructure projects in the public realm within a variety of settings, including streets, building sites, and lots, which municipalities have built over the past several years showing progress toward integrating infrastructure enhancements and shifting stormwater infrastructure from “gray” to “green.” In San Mateo County, “sustainable streets” are multi-benefit projects designed to improve street conditions for walkability, cycling, urban greening, climate resiliency, and water quality.

C/CAG recently funded ten Safe Routes to School (SRTS) and Green Streets Infrastructure Pilot Projects, which were intended to show the cost efficiencies and multiple community benefits of integrating bike and pedestrian improvements with green stormwater infrastructure. This map will continue to be updated as more green infrastructure projects are built throughout the County, as the municipalities work towards building a more resilient and sustainable stormwater system.

Flows to Bay’s Green Infrastructure Story Map showcases street improvement projects that demonstrate the progress local agencies are making toward shifting stormwater infrastructure from “gray” to “green.”

If you are interested in using green infrastructure to reduce stormwater pollution on your property and in your community, we’re happy to share that there is at least $300 available to you in a rebate to help you transform your yard into a sustainable rain garden with gorgeous native plants that attract local pollinators. If you have not yet accessed Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency’s (BAWSCA) Lawn Be Gone! rebate with rain garden addition, get started today! You can learn more about next steps on our Rain Gardens & Rebates page.

If you are looking for additional tips, make sure to check out these resource links, sample design plans, webinar recording, and informational videos for everything you need to know about rain garden design, construction, and maintenance!

A rain garden is a shallow landscaped depression that captures, cleans, and absorbs rainwater from a roof, driveway or street.

Remember, stormwater pollution prevention starts with you! We encourage you to explore the numerous pages and resources (including this 5-part video series) about green infrastructure that are available on the Flows To Bay website at no cost. No matter how big or small your actions are, we are so thankful that you are a part of this community and this movement to prevent stormwater pollution in our lovely county.

Have questions or ideas you’d like to share about how to reduce stormwater pollution in your community? Flows To Bay is here to help! Please reach out and we’ll gladly do what we can to support you.

It’s just about time to say farewell to fall and welcome the holiday season and all of the joy that comes along with the winter months! As we know all too well, along with the festivities comes colder temperatures and an increased prevalence of storms in San Mateo County.

There’s no doubt that last winter’s storms are still soaking up our attention. Although they provided much-needed relief to our statewide drought, the frequent and intense storming also caused significant flooding and posed a serious threat to the health of our local waterways.

At any time of the year, stormwater runoff can transport harmful pollutants such as pet waste and motor oil from our urban areas into our local waterways, but during extreme rain events, stormwater pollution becomes an even greater risk to environmental and public health.

The good news is that we are working together as a community to prepare for the rainy season and minimize the amount of stormwater pollution in our waterways. Keep reading to learn about this year’s highly successful rain barrel campaign and the actions you can take today to ensure you are ready for the wet season!

Hundreds of residents showed up this November to pick up their discounted rain barrels.

Hurrah for Another Successful Rain Barrel Distribution Event

Thanks to the hundreds of San Mateo residents who participated in our bulk rain barrel program this year, our third annual Rain Barrel Distribution Event was undoubtedly the best one yet! The event took place in the City of San Mateo on Saturday, November 4th, and around 180 community members attended the drive-thru event to conveniently pick up their pre-ordered 50-gallon rain barrels. This tremendous feat would not have been possible without our exceptional team and our wonderful partners, the City of San Mateo and Rainwater Solutions.

Residents picking up their rain barrels at this year’s distribution event in the City of San Mateo.

Meet One of the Heroes of the Rain Barrel Movement

We connected with Allison B. from Redwood City to learn more about her experience joining the rain barrel movement. Allison immediately reflected on how her new rainwater harvesting project relates to stormwater pollution prevention in her community. Living in the hills of Redwood City, she fared pretty well in the intense storms last year. But, due to highly saturated soils, she noted that most of the rain they received turned into runoff that transported harmful pollutants into local waterways:

“We have a view of the bay and can see the bay waters change from blue to brown after the big storms. While our two rain barrels won’t change that, it is important for all of us to try to do the little things that we can do, like recycling, using fewer chemicals, conserving water, and installing rain barrels! Every little bit helps.”

AlLISON b., rEDWOOD CITY

Indeed, every action that our community takes, no matter how large or small, can help us protect our precious waterways. The residents who participated in this year’s campaign and distribution event serve as an incredible example of what we can achieve together. The 297 rain barrels purchased this year through the program can capture nearly 15,000 gallons of stormwater during a single storm event and prevent it from transporting harmful pollutants into our streets, storm drains, and local waterways! And better yet, if we trend back to drought conditions, those barrels have conserved gallons of water to use.

Allison kindly shared some details about her experience with this year’s sale. She recalled how easy the online purchase system was to use and that when she arrived at the event, “there was no line and plenty of people to help us through the pickup process. The staff on-site loaded the barrels into our SUV, and we were on our way.”

Allison has already installed her rain barrels using the video instructions provided by Rain Water Solutions: “We have downspouts that go into a French drain, and the instructions even included information on how to handle that situation. I did the entire installation on my own in an hour or so. The rain barrels are working great!”

For those who may be feeling anxious about applying for BAWSCA’s rain barrel rebate, Allison found the process to be simple and straightforward and she has already received her rebate check in the mail. Please visit our Rain Barrel Rebate page to see a complete list of FAQs and steps to apply for the rebate, which can cover up to 100% of the per-barrel price (pre-tax) for qualifying applicants.

One of Allison B.’s newly installed
Ivy rain barrels.

We followed up with Allison about how her new rain barrels fit into her current landscaping design. She plans to use the harvested water to irrigate her yard in the dry season, and in particular, the south-facing native landscaping, which although drought-tolerant, still needs a lot of water because of the sun exposure. Although it can often feel like a drop in a bucket, every ounce of water she captures with these new barrels and uses to water her landscaping will help conserve precious potable water for our region.

Allison’s south-facing native landscaping.

It’s Your Turn to Join the Rain Barrel Movement in SMC!

Each time a resident like Allison installs a rain barrel on their property, they are making a positive impact on our local water quality and water supply. By taking this initiative, they are also joining a movement of neighbors who care about human and environmental health and have an important role to play in keeping our community resilient in a changing climate. All of us at Flows To Bay are so thankful for each and every one of you who supports water conservation and pollution prevention in San Mateo County.

Once you install your discounted barrel(s), we encourage you to place yourself on the Rain Barrel Map (pictured below) to officially join the rain barrel movement! If you’re absolutely loving your new rain barrel setup, we also welcome you to share your story and pictures with us by filling out our Water-Wise Home Project Form. We’d love to feature your project and share it with other San Mateo County residents.

Flows to Bay’s Rain Barrel Map shows how our community is working to capture every last drop.

If you were unable to participate in this year’s bulk discount event, you can still purchase a rain barrel from Rainwater Solutions or a local supplier and apply for BAWSCA’s rain barrel rebate! Please keep in mind that Flows To Bay does not endorse any specific company or brand. You can also sign up for our newsletter to stay informed about our next sale!

Get Prepared for the Stormy Season

There are many ways to help prevent stormwater pollution besides installing rain barrels on your property. Here are some simple actions you can take this winter to help keep our community safe.

These HHW items must be stored in a secure location away from rain and runoff.

Sandbags

Sandbags offer a simple and cost-effective way to prevent flood damage. In the event of a flood, you can use sandbags to help divert water around your home or business. San Mateo County Public Works offers up to 15 pre-made sandbags at no cost to residents of unincorporated areas. Many other cities in the county offer sandbags to community members. Be sure to look up your city’s public works online to get more information about the resources that are available to you.

Be mindful of pesticide use on rainy days

At Flows To Bay, we believe in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) – a strategy that emphasizes less-toxic control solutions that have the least environmental impact to keep pests at acceptable, low-levels. If you opt to use pesticides to manage your garden, try to choose the least-toxic product available and don’t apply them outdoors when rain is predicted as it can wash these chemicals off of your property and into our local waterways.

Store HHW in a secure location

Do not store household hazardous waste – chemical wastes and materials typically used within a household such as paints, cleaning solutions, oil, batteries, and pesticides – in locations where flooding is possible or where rain or runoff can reach these items.

Explore our website to learn more about the many ways that you can help prevent stormwater pollution in your community.

Remember, stormwater pollution prevention starts with you! These are just a few ways that you can help protect the health of our community and beautiful environment. We encourage you to explore the numerous pages and resources about stormwater pollution prevention that are available on the Flows To Bay website at no cost. Perhaps you would enjoy learning about successful schoolyard greening projects, the ins and outs of green infrastructure, or how to design your own sustainably-stylish rain garden! No matter how big or small your actions are, we are so thankful that you are a part of this community and this movement to prevent stormwater pollution in our lovely county.

Have questions or ideas you’d like to share about how to reduce stormwater pollution in your community? Flows To Bay is here to help! Reach out to Flows To Bay and we’ll gladly do what we can to support you.

From the towering redwood forests to shorelines teeming with wildlife, our beloved San Mateo County is truly a rich and diverse landscape. Whether you live bayside or by the sea, there is no doubt that we all cherish this special place we call home.

As precious as it is, one of the biggest threats to our natural environment is our overconsumption of single-use plastics. Despite our best intentions, these products often end up in our local waterways where they can reduce water quality, harm local wildlife, and damage human health when ingested by the fish we eat. This is why it is so important for all of us to be stewards of our environment, and do what we can to establish a litter-free San Mateo County.

Luckily, there are actions you can take today and any day to help preserve our environment and keep our communities healthy and safe!

The pristine Half Moon Bay coastline on a clear summer day.

Coastal Cleanup Day 2023

Coastal Cleanup Day is an annual statewide waterway and land cleanup held on the third Saturday of every September. It’s the state’s largest annual volunteer event and an excellent opportunity for all of us to come together as a community to remove trash from our environment before the winter storms come along and transport it into our waterways, the San Francisco Bay, and the Pacific Ocean.

Since 1985, over 1.6 million volunteers across the state have collected over 26 million pounds of trash! But this event is about more than just removing trash from our environment. The data that we collect from Coastal Cleanup Day has served a critical role in shaping groundbreaking legislation such as the single-use plastic bag ban that California passed in 2016. Since that time, we have observed a major decrease in the percentage of plastic bags found on beaches during Coastal Cleanup Day, which begs the question: What other single-use plastics can we get banned through collective action?

This year, The California Coastal Commission announced that the 39th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day will be held on Saturday, September 23, 2023, from 9am to Noon. Please visit https://www.smchealth.org/general-information/coastal-cleanup-day-2023 to learn about the 30+ clean-up locations you can volunteer at in San Mateo County and register with a team.

Can’t make it that morning? You can still participate in Coastal Cleanup Day by cleaning up your neighborhood any time throughout the month of September. Stormwater runoff can transport plastic waste and other pollutants from our neighborhoods into our local waterways at a very fast rate, so you can still make a huge impact on water quality and marine health by staying local.

Join us for Coastal Cleanup Day 2023! (Image source: SMC Health)

This event also serves as a reminder that we are overusing and discarding way too much trash into our environment each year. Participating in Coastal Cleanup Day is an easy way to help remedy the problem, but the real solution is for all of us to consider how we can reduce how much plastic waste we produce every day.

At Flows To Bay, Zero Waste Is The Way

Zero waste is a process and a philosophy that involves a redesign of products and consumption in a way that all material goods can be reused or recycled—or not discarded at all. This approach champions actions we can take to avoid using the single-use plastics that we often find washing up on our beautiful coastline.

Recycling is often celebrated as one of the best environmental actions that we can take as individuals. While it’s still important to recycle whenever possible, refusing to use products, reducing our consumption, and reusing materials often have a larger positive impact on our environment.

Aspiring for a zero waste lifestyle is one of the best ways to protect our local waterways. (Image source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance)

Refuse

The best thing you can do to have an impact on plastic waste reduction is to simply refuse to use single-use plastics whenever possible. This may seem challenging at first, but with some basic preparation, it can become fairly easy. By saying “no thanks” to free disposable items and carrying your own reusable items such as grocery bags, a water bottle, and cutlery, you can make a huge difference!

Reduce

The less we consume, the less we waste! Although it may seem obvious, we can find great power in reducing the amount of items we own and choose to buy going forward. More often than not, we don’t end up using these items as we originally intended to and they can end up as waste in our landfills and on our beaches.

Reuse

Although we should all strive to refuse and reduce whenever we can, there will always be a need for us to consume. In these moments, reusing is what we can do to extend the usefulness of the products we consume before they are discarded. This can be a very fun and creative activity, such as repairing clothing or turning an empty pasta jar into a vase for your flowers.

An inside look at a local sustainable grocery store! (Image Source: Byrd’s Filling Station.)

Support Local Businesses!

Another great way to contribute to waste reduction is to support local sustainable businesses that are working to make a zero-waste and plastic-free lifestyle easier for all San Mateo County residents. Check out a few highlights below!

  • Reusable San Mateo County is currently piloting reusable takeout containers with several eateries in Burlingame.
  • Byrd’s Filling Station is a sustainable grocery store that sells reusable containers and offers bulk refill services to completely cut single-use plastic out of the picture. Read our blog from last year to learn more about their incredible story.
  • Okapi Reusables partners with local cafes to offer reusable cups that keep your drink hotter or colder longer and minimize environmental impact.

Remember, stormwater pollution prevention starts with you! There are so many ways that you can help reduce single-use plastic waste in our community. You can volunteer at Coastal Cleanup Day, take our litter pledge, support one of the sustainable businesses listed above, or decide to make one small and simple change in your lifestyle to contribute to waste reduction in San Mateo County. Zero waste may be the goal, but when many of us collectively reduce our waste just a little bit, we can achieve so much more than we ever thought was possible.

Have questions or ideas you’d like to share about how to reduce waste in your community? Flows To Bay is here to help! Reach out to Flows To Bay and we’ll gladly do what we can to support you.

Although Earth Day has passed, we should always be working to make our communities more sustainable and resilient to change. At Flows To Bay, we view every day as Earth day since every day is an opportunity to conserve water and keep our beautiful waterways pollution-free!

Even as we transition from a record wet season to warmer and drier months, stormwater pollution and landscape runoff can still threaten the health of our local creeks, the San Francisco Bay, and the Pacific Ocean. This is because water that flows from our buildings and lawns can transport harmful pollutants such as litter and animal waste from our urban landscape down our untreated storm drains and into our local waterways. Luckily, rain barrels and rain gardens are great ways to capture and manage runoff before it reaches our storm drains and can damage our local waterways and the precious organisms that depend on them.

Schools happen to be perfect locations to integrate these rainwater harvesting features that serve to save water, reduce runoff, and improve stormwater quality in our urban environment. Click here to learn more about Flows To Bay’s efforts to create rainwater resilient schools in partnership with the San Mateo County Sustainable and Climate Ready Schools Partnership Network.

On March 25th, Flows To Bay partnered with Each Green Corner and a local Rainwater Harvesting Specialist named Chris Corvetti to install a daisy chain rain barrel system at Central Middle School (CMS) in San Carlos. The project served as an opportunity for the community to come together to learn hands-on about the rain barrel installation process and for the school to increase their capacity to capture stormwater and prevent stormwater pollution.

The new 220-gallon daisy chain rain barrel catchment system at Central Middle School.

Central Middle School’s Daisy Chain Rain Barrel Installation

Ten enthusiastic community volunteers attended the hands-on workshop. The skill level varied tremendously within the group, but the beauty of the event was how accessible it was for anyone who just wants to learn the basics about rain barrels and how to install them properly. In fact, there was even one fourth grade student who participated!

This workshop is a great example of what Flows To Bay can organize for other schools in the county, so let’s take a deeper look at each step of the installation process.

Learning the Basics

The first step of the workshop was making sure that all of the attendees were up to speed. So, our amazing rainwater harvesting specialist Chris gave a brief presentation on stormwater pollution and the basic anatomy of rain barrel systems.

Chris explained how rain barrels function to help us prevent stormwater pollution. Then, she introduced all of the components that come with the BlueBarrel DIY-RainKit that we would be using to set up the new system at Central Middle School. BlueBarrel’s rain barrel system is particularly affordable and sustainable because it’s made from repurposed 55-gallon barrels.

If you are interested in purchasing a BlueBarrel DIY-RainKit for your home or school, don’t forget to use Flows To Bay’s promo code to get 10% off! Make sure to also check out our rain barrel and rebate page to see if you are eligible for up to $200 in rebates through the Countywide Rain Barrel Rebate Program and Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA).

Chris Corvetti presenting on rain barrels and how they help prevent stormwater pollution.

Plumbing Skills

After we covered the basics, it was time to get to work! Chris showed us how to cut PVC pipes and glue them to the repurposed BlueBarrels so we could create the daisy chain system.

BlueBarrel’s daisy chain system allows you to easily connect as many barrels as you want to each other so there is no limit to the amount of storage capacity that you can install! Although it may seem complex, the system is actually very simple. When water flowing from your downspout (think: gutter) fills up the first barrel, the extra water flows through the overflow hole on the bottom and into the next barrel. You can learn more about how this system works on their website.

This simple yet powerful system allowed us to set up four 55-gallon rain barrels, with a total storage capacity of 220 gallons of water!

Chris Corvetti helping two residents learn how to attach PVC pipes to BlueBarrels.

Heavy Lifting Before Lunch

Once we set up the plumbing, we moved the rain barrels from the school’s courtyard to their final home next to our chosen rain gutter and above a nearby planter box.

Then it was time for lunch! To reward everyone for their hard work, Flows To Bay brought sandwiches, snacks and beverages for all of the attendees.

Snacks, water and informational fliers that Flows To Bay brought for the attendees of the workshop.

Creating A Drip Irrigation System

After lunch, we all got our hands dirty and spent some time removing weeds from the planter adjacent to the rain barrels. You can really see just how much we removed in the images below.

The next item on the agenda was to create an automatic drip irrigation system that feeds overflow water from the rain barrels into the nearby planter of fig trees. First, we configured the rain barrels to a flow controller and pump with an automatic timer that will make it easy for students at the school to water the planter on a regular basis.

Next, we cut a gardening hose and attached it to the barrels to create the drip irrigation system that feeds into the planters (see the black piping in the image on the right).

A resident weeding the planter adjacent to the new daisy chain rain barrel system. (Left)
The newly installed drip irrigation system at CMS. (Right)

At Flows To Bay, every day is Earth day.

Next Steps at CMS

The installation was a great success, but the work does not stop there! Each Green Corner, who donated the 4 barrels we installed during this event, will continue to work with the school to install mulch and additional plants in the nearby planter.

That’s all it takes! The result of our combined efforts was a newly installed daisy chain rain barrel system that has the potential to harvest over 8,000 gallons of water over the course of a year and feeds overflow water into the garden right next to it. Central Middle School will benefit tremendously from this addition of green infrastructure that can help capture, clean and absorb stormwater runoff on campus.

Chris Corvetti and some of the workshop attendees discussing the new rain barrel catchment system at CMS.

Even though Flows To Bay helped organize the event, this was truly a hands-on workshop, so we want to give a special shout out to all of the residents who attended and made this installation possible. You all demonstrate just how much our community shows up and embraces every day as earth day.

Stormwater pollution prevention starts with you! Not sure where you or your school should start? Flows To Bay is here to help! Reach out to Flows To Bay and we’ll help you get set up with a rain barrel or rain garden project on your campus.

San Mateo County and surrounding areas are seeing record amounts of rain, but as meteorologist Richard Heim explained in the LA Times, “A few months of really wet weather, well, it’s not going to make much of a dent in these deficits that have accumulated over the years.” So, don’t let this fool you – water conservation efforts are as vital as they’ve ever been, and the San Mateo County residents who participated in this year’s rain barrel program are doing their part to harvest and conserve rainwater!

Capturing rainwater reduces the runoff that otherwise funnels into streets and picks up pollutants from all surfaces, including roofs.

Expanding the Program

After 4 rain barrel distribution events, Flows To Bay sent a total of 825 rain barrels home to over 450 San Mateo County residents. Those 825 barrels will capture 41,250 gallons of water each time they are completely filled! 

Thank you to the Public Works Departments of Daly City, Millbrae, Redwood City, and San Mateo for hosting this year’s distribution events. Their assistance, paired with immense resident excitement and support, enabled us to double the number of distribution events compared to last year’s pilot program.

We’re seeing a significant and proactive mindset spreading broadly among communities with an interest in conserving water, preparing for large storm events, and turning rainwater into a resource. This is very exciting to see!

REID BOGERT,  C/CAG STORMWATER PROGRAM SPECIALIST

Soaking Up the Rain

Kevin’s rain barrel setup.

San Mateo resident and proud rain barrel program participant, Kevin, shared his excitement on social media through a series of Instagram posts. In his series, Kevin shocked friends and family by revealing that his 50-gallon rain barrel filled up with rainwater in less than a day!

Kevin jumped at the chance to order his barrel this year after hearing about the program last year and missing out on ordering a barrel before the program sold out. Kevin describes himself as “eco-conscious as the average person who’s just trying to do the best he can.” Interestingly, making a big impact isn’t as challenging as one might think! After participating this year and already seeing an immense payoff, ordering additional barrels next year is a no-brainer for Kevin. Kevin’s biggest takeaway after receiving his barrel?

It’s much easier than I thought it would be. Water that runs off a roof can be easily reused with very modest alterations. I don’t know why more people aren’t doing it.

KEVIN SIMPSON, SAN MATEO RESIDENT

Here are some other helpful rain barrel tips we picked up from our chat with Kevin: 

  • When considering how many barrels to get, order more than you think. You’ll be shocked at how quickly your rain barrels fill up!
  • Use paver stones to level the ground and provide a platform for your barrel(s).
  • Kevin’s not the handiest guy in the world (his words), so don’t let your handiness skills deter you because setting up the barrel is “incredibly easy.”

Thank you, Kevin, for taking the time to share your experience with your community! Check out Kevin’s rain barrel setup and post series on Instagram @kevin_simpson_stargazer. 

Do you have a rain barrel? You can make a positive impact by helping show the importance of this simple action in San Mateo County!

  • Share a photo of you with your rain barrel setup, tag @Flowstobay in your caption on Instagram and Facebook, and be sure to include the hashtag #FlowsToBarrel.

Add yourself to our interactive map to join the San Mateo County Rain Barrel Movement!

Interested in learning more about rainwater harvesting and gardening tips? Check out our recent blog!

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on future rain barrel events and giveaways!

[Updated October 27, 2022]

Our beautiful San Mateo County is lucky to have access to water resources such as the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. However, the County is currently experiencing severe drought according to the US Drought Monitor, and the State Water Control Board recently told urban water agencies across California to utilize water restrictions to prepare for decreased supply. In light of this news, it is more important than ever to conserve and protect our water resources. 

Safe and clean water is necessary for our daily lives, from  showering to drinking to supporting the wellbeing of humans and wildlife alike. After all, water is at the heart of everything we do! 

In many cases, water conservation and stormwater pollution prevention go hand in hand. When we capture rainwater or reduce the amount of water we use in our gardens, we are also reducing the amount of run-off that can carry pollutants (such as pesticides, pet waste, motor oil, and more) into our storm drain system.

Here are a few ways you can save water while simultaneously keeping our waterways clean!

Early bird gets the rainy season worm

Consider implementing a rain catchment system on your property. This will allow you to conserve water AND utilize water that would otherwise make its way into our storm drains, picking up pollutants on the way. Two worms, one bird!

  • Dig into making a rain garden: Rain gardens are landscaped areas designed to capture and filter rainwater while irrigating native and drought-tolerant plants. You may even qualify for a $300 rain garden rebate when replacing your water-guzzling lawn!
  • Set up a rain barrel: Rain barrels are a simple way of helping out the environment, your plants, and your budget. Instead of letting rain water run off your roof into the storm drain, rain barrels capture that rainwater to use in your garden in drier months. Learn more about rain barrels and our rebate program here.

Go green with a drought-tolerant garden

Having a beautiful flourishing yard doesn’t require a whole lot of water or harmful products like pesticides and fertilizers. By trying out these natural yard and garden management strategies, you can save water (and money!) while keeping our waterways healthy and happy. 

  • Go native: Less water? No problem! Native California plants are naturally more resilient to our current drought conditions. Plus, natives require less chemical pesticides which not only makes yard care much easier, but also less harmful to our waters. Check out this article for more information and help on getting started on your own native plant oasis. 
  • Put compost to work: Compost is amazing at boosting your soil’s capacity to retain water, but also gives your garden a nutritious pick-me-up. By promoting soil and plant health, compost also reduces the need for harsh fertilizers that often harm our waterways. For more lawn and garden tips, check out this page.

Clean streets, clean streams

One of the easiest things we can do is make sure our driveways and walkways are clean from leftover contaminants. Aside from being an eyesore, these contaminants harm our waterways and wildlife. 

  • Driveway cleaning: A hose may seem like an easy way to clear off the driveway of debris and oil spills from the car, but this runoff can manifest as storm drain clogs and pollution to aquatic wildlife. For a safer and more water-wise cleanup, use kitty litter to absorb any oil spills and use a broom to sweep away any leaves or rubble.
  • Car washing: The best way to keep your ride sparkling is to bring it over to a commercial car wash instead of hosing it down on your property. The pros are able to collect, filter, and reuse runoff water instead of letting it head for the storm drain.

Stay in the know

Stay updated on current water shortages with the Bay Area Drought Map & Tracker. Check in with your local water district for updates regarding any water use restrictions that may apply to you and your neighbors. The County of San Mateo Office of Sustainability webpage lets you enter your zipcode to learn more about your local water agency’s programs, while also offering resources to help you save water in the home! 

Share this info along with your favorite water conservation tips with friends and family to help ensure San Mateo County has clean, beautiful waters for years to come!

Every year we welcome the season with spring cleaning, and every April 22nd we honor our planet by celebrating Earth Day. This year we figured we’d help you merge these two traditions! 

Earth Day begins at home, and while you prepare for spring by cleaning your home and getting rid of what you don’t need, it’s important to make sure that spring cleaning doesn’t result in pollution or waste. We’ve compiled a list of helpful tips to make your Earth Day celebration just a little smoother.

Less-toxic Cleaning Products

Common store-bought cleaning products may contain chemicals that can negatively impact water quality if introduced into waterways or cause irritation if exposed to eyes or skin. While you do a deep clean of your home, here are some less toxic alternatives you can use:

  • Lemon juice: cuts grease and grime.
  • Baking soda: removes stains and grime.
  • White vinegar: cuts grease and grime. 
  • Hydrogen peroxide 3% solution: removes stains and acts as a disinfectant. 
  • Liquid soap that is free of triclosan and sodium lauryl. Castile soap is a good option. 

Check out this San Mateo County Health site for DIY cleaning product recipes. 

Low-Waste Decluttering Tips

While your ultimate goal may be to begin spring with a decluttered home, you can do so while creating the least amount of waste possible. Follow these tips to cut down on waste:

  1. Donate and keep items out of the landfill! Create piles for things that can be donated such as pantry staples, old clothes, or entertainment items. These items could find a new home and stay out of the landfill. Visit recyclestuff.org to find a list of donation locations for different household items.
  2. Reduce, reuse, and repurpose. While identifying things you don’t need anymore, you can also make a note of things that might serve a new purpose. Have old jars sitting around? Repurpose them into storage for pantry staples. Have worn out t-shirts in your closet? Use them as rags for cleaning up spills. 
  3. Sort your waste. Make sure you know what belongs in the trash, recycling, compost, and donation so that everything is disposed of in the most environmentally friendly way. If you’re not sure, visit your waste hauler’s website for more information.
  4. Make sure to check labels. Checking labels before tossing anything into any bin will help keep toxic products out of our waterways. Not everything can be thrown away in your residential waste bins. Read on to learn which items may require special disposal.

What Should I Do With My Household Hazard Waste?

Remember that items such as paint, cleaning products, car fluids, and batteries are considered household hazardous waste (HHW) and cannot be disposed of in the trash. HHW is waste from your home that is toxic, corrosive, flammable, or reactive and must be disposed of at an HHW center. For a full list of these items, check out our HHW page. 

If these items are improperly disposed of they can contaminate our waterways and drinking water, harm wildlife, and put sanitation workers at risk. Make sure to do your part by making an appointment to bring in your household hazardous waste to an HHW facility. 

As we begin spring cleaning and celebrate Earth Day let’s be sure to be mindful of our environment. By following these tips, you can help reduce waste and protect our  waterways. Happy spring cleaning and happy Earth Day!

Do you have your own Earth Day tips? Share them with us using the form below!

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Halloween is one of our favorites—but it’s unfortunately not the most eco-friendly holiday and the thought of all of the potential plastic pollution gives us quite a fright! With thousands of children and families enjoying Halloween’s traditions, from costume making to trick (or trunk)-or-treating, the potential environmental impact of litter and consumption is HUGE. As a reminder—please make sure you have a safe Halloween by following social distancing and wearing a mask!

But fear not! We have four suggestions that will make this year’s Halloween more sustainable, and keep the waters of San Mateo County healthy and free of debris! 

1. Hold on to your wrappers. When we’re out trick-or-treating, we may be tempted by the delicious morsels in our haul. As you and your family enjoy your treats on-the-go, please make sure those pesky wrappers don’t end up on the ground (which could ultimately find their way down a storm drain and into a nearby creek). A great tip is to wear something with zippered pockets or collect the wrappers in your tote, to secure any wayward candy wrappers until they can be properly disposed of in the trash. This will also ensure our neighborhood sidewalks and streets stay clean and beautiful. 

2. ‘Recycle’ costumes! When photos last forever, and every Halloween requires a new look, A LOT of costumes end up getting worn once and discarded. Instead of tossing your costumes in the trash, or banishing them to a box in the basement, why not donate them to your local high school’s drama club, sell them online, give them to charity, or stuff ‘em and use them in your garden as scarecrows? Renting a costume is also a great idea (cheap, easy, and returnable)! Not in the mood to shop? Why not call friends and family to see if you can trade costumes that you both already have lying around. After all, one person’s trash is another’s treasure!  

3. Get creative with trick-or-treat bags. Plastic jack-o-lanterns are always full of candy and dangling from hands-on Halloween. The problem? Plastic is brittle, and once broken, finds its way into landfills. Your Halloween haul deserves a bag strong enough to support the weight of all the delicious treats you’ll be getting! Better options to carry treats include pillowcases, reusable tote bags, and other reusable non-plastic bags. For an added twist, host a pillowcase decorating party the weekend before Halloween with a “Go Green” theme and watch all the creative things that kids come up with. That way, your candy bag—and minds—will be primed for an eco-friendly Halloween night.

4. Consider your candy. Halloween is not complete without treats, but there are ways to reduce your waste and select sustainable options! Keep our three Cs in mind when you’re making your treat selections. 

  • Consider packaging – When buying candy and other treats, think about buying them in bulk to minimize the use of packaging and wrapping. You can also check to see if the packaging is recyclable. By making these choices, we can reduce the amount of waste generated from candy wrappers.
  • Choose fair-trade – For our cocoa lovers out there who plan to give out chocolates, check that your chocolate selection is fair trade. A fair trade certification lets you know that treats you are buying were made under humane working conditions and contribute to sustainable livelihoods for cocoa farmers.
  • Check for organic labels – While they may be more expensive, organic goodies can also be great choices to pass out. They tend to have a smaller environmental footprint, and better, they’re made from products that don’t contain pesticides or other potentially harmful materials.

Do you have other creative suggestions to make Halloween more environmentally-friendly? We would love to hear from you! Please share your ideas with us at info@flowstobay.org.

San Mateo County has officially entered a severe drought phase according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. After the area’s last drought in 2015, residents throughout the county sought ways to integrate water wise practices into their gardening and landscaping practices.

Here’s an example from one such resident who was kind enough to share her story and project pictures with Flows To Bay. Marlene from San Mateo writes:

“From 2015-2017, we attended sustainable landscape workshops in the Peninsula, South Bay, and East Bay. In 2017, we redesigned our back and front yards merging Asian design elements with sustainable practices. For the backyard, we sheet mulched our lawn, reused existing bricks and sidewalk, acquired rocks from a neighbor’s disassembled rock wall, and channeled the downspout rainwater to a dry creek.

We also added California native plants to attract birds and bees as well as a lemon bush that was sized to reduce green waste. No chemicals were used during or after the landscaping. During the rainy season, the dry creek fills up and acts like a giant rain gauge by the amount it fills up and the rate it empties.

The ground surrounding the dry creek stays quite moist and our large tree stays much greener throughout the year because of the water saturation from the creek.”  

Brick channel that routes rain water from the home’s downspout to the dry creek
Wider view of the dry creek and the plants it nourishes
What the dry creek looks like after a rain event
Close up of the dry creek filled with rain water

Have Your Own Water Wise Project You Would Like To Share?

Simply fill out the form below and upload your images. You can also email your story and images directly to info@flowstobay.org.

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    UPDATED September 9, 2021

    The ongoing drought conditions throughout California have impacted San Mateo County, which is included in the declared State of Emergency. In July, Governor Newsom issued an executive order that requests all Californians to voluntarily reduce their water use by 15% compared to 2020 levels. There are currently no mandatory water use restrictions or drought surcharges in effect.

    Water shortages and drought are not new in the western United States. When we experience water shortages, basic aspects of our everyday lives can change dramatically. What are some of the immediate effects when it comes to water management and landscaping, in particular? Extreme drought requires more intensive watering just to keep your garden or other landscaping alive, which of course only worsens the problem. Ponds and creeks can dry up, reducing the natural source of water to surrounding soils. Fire season becomes a major concern for environmental and air quality. The drier and more severe the drought, the more severe the impacts become. 

    San Mateo County joins many other areas in California experiencing an “Extreme Drought” as indicated on the map below from the United States Drought Monitor. These numbers reflecting our current water levels are concerning scientists and community planners alike. An “Extreme Drought” at this time of the year, however, can foreshadow a more extreme drought later in the summer months. Things can snowball—or rather, tumbleweed—quickly. With this in mind, what can we do to ensure we don’t run out of water this summer?

    We use water in so many different ways every day, which includes washing dishes, brushing our teeth, cooking, cleaning, and watering our garden. Given the current projections for continued dry weather this year, we thought we’d share a list of some tips and tricks you can implement in and outside your home to start lowering your water usage today.

    Outdoor Water Conservation Tips & Tricks

    • Rain Capture – Using rain barrels or cisterns is an excellent way to save water and money! Rather than irrigating your lawn or garden with potable water, rain barrels allow you to actually harvest and employ the rain. The larger your rain capture system, the more water you’ll have available to use during drier months! Check out San Mateo County’s rain barrel rebate program to learn how you can receive up to $200 by owning one of your very own. 
    • Mulching – If you haven’t added mulch to your yard, we recommend doing it now. This action reduces water loss, keeps nutrients in the soil, and—bonus points!—prevents weeds from taking over. Click here for tips on applying mulch.
    • Native Plants – Rather than non-native plants that often need more water to thrive, native plants are already accustomed to your local climate and can often tolerate droughts, which are characteristic of many areas in California.
    • Irrigation – If you’re still hand-watering or turning on sprinklers, you might want to switch to drip irrigation to reduce your water use. You can even install a smart sprinkler controller, which will adjust how much water and when to water based on weather conditions, the type of soil you have, and the amount of shade your plants receive.
    • Lawn Replacement – Your lawn is one of the most water-intensive plant features in your yard and requires year-round maintenance. Consider replacing your grass with drought-tolerant landscaping, you’ll have all the green you want without the hassle. You may also be eligible to receive a rebate for your lawn replacement. Take your lawn replacement project to the next level by adding a rain garden and receiving an additional $300 back on eligible projects!

    Indoor Water Conservation Tips & Tricks

    • Toilets – Toilet flushing is the largest indoor use of water in single-family homes (followed by faucets, showers, clothes washers, and leaks). Switch to a low-flush toilet and you could reduce your water usage by 40-50%.
    • Leaks – On average, 13% of residential water use is from leaks! Make sure to address any leaks in pipes or drips in faucets, and always be sure to turn your tap off and make sure it is tight when you are not using it to prevent dripping. Also, avoid keeping the water running when brushing your teeth or washing dishes. These simple actions could save you real money in the long run.
    • Washing Machines – Always try for full loads when washing dishes or clothes to get the most out of your water usage. Relatedly, we recommend selecting the “suds-saver” or other efficiency options on your appliances if equipped. 
    • Water Warm Up – Use a bucket in the shower to capture cold water as you wait for the temperature to warm up and use it for irrigation or other water needs.

    Remember that all of these tips and tricks not only lower your water usage, but they save you money on your water bill. So, always keep your water usage in mind and do what you can for the environment and your community! Also, look for rebates on efficiency gadgets from your water supplier. Do you have any tips and tricks you would like to share with us? Fill out the form below and submit your ideas today!

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