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Category: Home Tips
Shaleen of Redwood City was the raffle winner of a new 50 gallon rain barrel from our Rain Barrel Workshop in May.
“It was an amazing experience getting it all together!” Shaleen told us.
She decided to first update her downspout— which after getting materials, took only 20-25 minutes to install—and did most of the installation on her own.
When asked about her interest in owning a rain barrel, Shaleen shared that conserving water was a top priority to her for multiple reasons. “We had planting material that needed plenty of water…which resulted in a higher water bill,” said Shaleen. “We’ve made changes to the planting materials we added during quarantine and succulents/cacti has been the way to go, still keeping our lavender, inpatients, marigolds and such.” Shaleen continued to explain that the versatility of rain barrels provides an available supply for “a water fountain, which attracts birds, but results in needing it to refill.”
Shaleen documented her installation for us.
Another usage of the rain barrel included improving the stability of her home and the small body of water nearby. “The landscape around our home seemed to have an erosion problem and all the water coming off the roof was not helping. Plus there were times the creek next to us would overflow,” said Shaleen.
“There were so many uses for the rain barrel at our home that I was so glad I could install one.”
After asking about whether she would recommend a rain barrel to others, Shaleen’s excitement flowed through her words.
“I would definitely recommend a rain barrel to my friends and family, Shaleen exclaimed. “You can conserve water and help the environment—not to mention save on water use and costs. It’s a win-win situation.”
Thank you Shaleen for telling us about the reasons why you wanted a rain barrel and your installation experience!
Don’t Miss Out on the Countywide Rain Barrel Rebate!
All residents of San Mateo County are eligible to receive a rebate on a rain barrel through the countywide Rain Barrel Rebate Program, which now offers a tiered program of rebates from $50-$200 depending on the size of your barrel and the area you live in!
As Shaleen told us, rain barrels benefit the environment, your plants, and your budget. How?
With the recent water crisis in California, rain barrels are one of the best ways to save money and water by cutting back potable water used for irrigation.
Rain barrels protect local creeks, the San Francisco Bay, and the Ocean by reducing urban runoff that transports litter, motor oil, copper, and other pollutants into storm drains.
Rain barrels can moderate flooding during the rainy winter season, decrease land erosion, and also reduce the amount of moisture that reaches your home’s foundation.
Click here to read about more benefits of installing a rain barrel. Questions? Drop us a line at info@flowstobay.org.
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.
The following paragraph is an update added on January 6th, 2021:
The Health Officer Order Appendix A of the Social Distancing Protocol was revised to remove language about not permitting individuals to bring reusable items from home into stores. The removal of the language means that County residents may bring their reusable bags and coffee cups into retail stores. Retail stores may adopt their own stricter policies prohibiting such items if they wish. For more information, the revised Appendix A Order can be found here.
By now you may have noticed grocery shopping isn’t the same as it used to be. Among the various changes, one effects how you carry your purchased items back home.
The Health Officer’s Order prohibits all bags brought in by customers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that reusable bags brought in by customers are not allowed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In response, San Mateo County has adopted an Emergency Regulation that suspends the requirement for retailers to charge for reusable bags or recycled content paper bags at point of sale.
With the increase of plastic bag usage, please help keep our waterways clean by reusing or recycling the bags responsibly. Visit recyclestuff.org to learn where you can drop off unwanted plastic bags.
Here are the details you need to know:
Effective Date: The Regulation takes effect immediately and will remain in place until the Health Officer removes the suspension.
Bags Allowed: Reusable 2.25 mil durable plastic or 30% post-consumer recycled content paper bags provided by retailers.
Prohibited Bags: Reusable bags brought in by customers. Single-use plastic or paper bags that aren’t made with recycled content paper.
Bag Charges: Retailers may suspend the 25-cent charge or may continue to charge for compliant bags at their discretion.
Retailers Affected: The Regulation applies to all retailers in unincorporated and incorporated areas of San Mateo County. The towns/cities of Atherton, Woodside, and Hillsborough are exempt from this Regulation.
Resources For Retailers
Signs are available in English, Spanish, and Chinese to display on storefront windows to help educate customers about the new requirements.
For questions or more information, please contact Environmental Health Services at (650) 372-6200 or envhealth@smcgov.org or learn more at smchealth.org/bagban.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and current shelter-in-place directives, many of us may be finding ourselves with some extra time at home. Luckily, we have a whole host of activities that will keep your family active and engaged, while keeping pollution prevention top of mind.
Read on for 5 water wise ideas for how you can easily make a positive impact from your home and have fun while doing it!
1) Work on Your Garden
Spend some time improving your yard to keep your landscape healthy and also protect our local creeks, the San Francisco Bay, and the Pacific Ocean. There are many ways you can do this:
Cover bare soil or “patchy” areas with mulch or plants to prevent runoff
Create a small soil berm in a ring around new plants to contain water
Incorporate more permeable materials (like permeable pavers) into your patios, driveway, and walkways
Terrace steep slopes to slow down runoff – this can also be a great way to create stepped veggie or flower gardens if you have steeper slopes
Avoid the use of synthetic fertilizers by making your own compost pile for natural fertilization
Plant drought-resistant plants
Avoid the use of (and remove!) plants considered invasive in our local ecosystem
Click here to learn more about how the practices you adopt in your yard can help the Bay and Ocean.
2) Connect with Nature
Take your kids outside. Spend 15 minutes quietly observing the sights and sounds of the birds, trees, grass, and wind. Do you see an ant? Where is it going, and what is it doing? We are often so wrapped up in our busy lives that we miss small moments of beauty happening all around us all the time. After your observation, encourage your kids to write or draw, reflecting on their observations. This can be a great way to spend a peaceful moment outside with your child — just remember, “we have to remain quiet so we don’t scare the birds away.” 😉
When your moment of nature appreciation ends, our “Kids’ Corner” section of the Outreach Materials page on the new www.flowstobay.org website has resources and information to help keep your little ones entertained, including an interactive game, downloadable activity pages, activity books, and links to other fun and educational sites.
3) Plan a Rain Garden
Now is a great time to go the extra mile to prevent stormwater pollution! We suggest that you consider doing this through a rain garden.
What’s a rain garden? It’s actually exactly what you think it is! It’s a garden that collects rainwater directly from your roof, which makes it self-sufficient and low-maintenance. Beyond that, the native vegetation planted in rain gardens collects rainwater and absorbs it into the ground, which recharges local and regional aquifers and decreases the amount of stormwater runoff that reaches your storm drain. Other benefits of a rain garden include:
Helps protect communities from flooding and drainage problems
Supports the health of local waterways from pollutants carried by stormwater
Provides valuable habitat for birds, butterflies, and many beneficial insects
Did you know that you don’t always have to use those brand name products to get the job done? And that they also can harm our local waterways? There are plenty of less-toxic cleaning alternatives to help you with your Spring Cleaning while supporting the protection of local creeks, the San Francisco Bay, the Pacific Ocean, and your family!
Where should you start? Check out this helpful resource to help guide you by task and ingredient. Some of these safer alternatives can be used as laundry detergent, glass cleaner, carpet cleaner, and floor polish!
5) Proper Disposal of Cleaning Wipes and Related Items
With the emphasis of sanitation to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, you may be finding yourself using cleaning wipes more often.
Don’t flush these wipes down the toilet, even if they say they are supposedly “flushable”
Don’t flush diapers, paper towels, tissues, and napkins
The only item that should be flushed in the toilet is toilet paper
Improper disposal of these items can wreak havoc on our sewer system. Sewer systems are only designed to accommodate toilet paper because it disintegrates quickly in water—other items will clog pipes and can lead to backups that can damage property and pollute local creeks. Be kind to our sewer systems and practice proper disposal!
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!
It’s a new year and a time for change! In need of a resolution? Flows to Bay has you covered! This year, we encourage you to consider using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices for your pest control needs.
What is IPM?
It’s an approach to gardening and pest control issues that offers a natural and effective alternative to conventional methods that often don’t work as well as you might hope, or come with unwanted environmental consequences.
Though seemingly convenient, pesticides are generally only a band-aid solution to your gardening ails, and they can even sometimes encourage more pest problems because the underlying causes of infestation remain unaddressed. The IPM process understands this and looks to do away with the immediate and heavy application of pesticides when pests pop up. Instead, IPM focuses on a variety of methods that when taken together deal more effectively with pest problems at their source.
Looking at a pest problem through this lens means that you’ll:
Look at environmental factors that affect the pest and its ability to thrive.
Create conditions that are unfavorable for the pest.
Reap the benefits of a mostly pest-free, resilient, and more thriving garden ecosystem.
To learn more about what IPM really looks like in practice in San Mateo County, we reached out to pest control operators in our county over the past year and learned some lessons from one expert in the field – Hendrick Wong. Impressed by his passion and background in IPM, we invited him to share his insights.
Who is Hendrick Wong?
Hendrick is a Board Certified Entomologist and pest management professional. He has a degree in IPM from UC Berkeley and has been working in the pest control industry for over 30 years. He cites his background in IPM as having given him the unique ability to “understand the biology of the pest,” which is an important aspect of what makes his IPM approach work so effectively.
Hendrick’s commitment to IPM practices is driven primarily by his love for the environment and his desire to decrease the presence of pesticides in the food chains of our local ecosystems. When pesticides are applied to plants, they enter the bodies of organisms that eat plants and then travel into the bodies of animals that eat those organisms. Through this process, persistent chemicals can build up in the bodies of animals across a food chain. As Hendrick stated, “pesticide usage should be the last option, not the first.”
Want to use pesticides more effectively? Hendrick shared the most common advice he gives to people with persistent pest problems:
Recommends removing ground cover (leaves and debris) to discourage ants.
Discourages homeowners from “requesting regular monthly perimeter treatment for insects” because it is unnecessary and leads to an “overuse of pesticides.”
Educates “restaurant owners to exercise better sanitation.”
Instructs homeowners to “trim back excessive vegetation” that’s below their home’s roofline and not on their property.
Encourages homeowners to release ladybird beetles and lacewings into their gardens for biological control.
Why does Flows To Bay support IPM practices? Individual actions DO make a difference, and the decisions we make at home are connected to the broader health of the County! When pesticides are applied haphazardly or in excess they become a water quality concern. Any chemicals and debris that accumulate on our lawns, sideways, roads, and driveways are at risk of being carried into storm drains by rain or overwatering, and from there it is a quick and unfiltered trip to local waterways, the Bay and ocean.
Do you want to learn more about IPM or find an IPM pest control operator in your area? Check out more information on this webpage! Another useful local resource is ReScape California – who’s 8 principles for maintaining a regenerative landscape draw on many of the core aspects of Integrated Pest Management.
Sometimes doing things ourselves means we can be more creative, efficient, and smarter with our resources. For example, making food at home rather than getting takeout can reduce waste by eliminating unnecessary driving and the need for single-use packaging. But when it comes to washing your car at home, this weekend chore can actually become a huge source of water waste and contribute to water pollution.
While it may feel like washing it yourself is the better choice, taking your vehicle to a commercial car wash is the much more environmentally-friendly and water-wise option.
Car Washing At Home
So how can commercial washes, with their giant hoses and huge machines, use less water than you would at home with your yard hose and sponge?
Washing your car at home uses about 12 gallons of water per minute when using a basic 50 feet hose that is half an inch in diameter. This amount almost doubles at 22 gallons per minute if your hose is 5/8 of an inch in diameter (Curious about how much water your garden hose uses? Check out this nifty flow rate chart!). Ultimately, using a garden hose can contribute to a lot of water waste! A short 10-minute car wash can amount to more than 100 gallons of water.
To add insult to injury, all of that water is very likely running off your driveway, sidewalk, or street, and into a nearby storm drain. Water from car washing can contain many elements that are unsafe for natural waterways. This includes dirt, oil, metals (copper, nickel, and zinc), other car fluids—and of course—soapy phosphates and chlorides from carwash soap. All these pollutants get carried by the water into a storm drain and then flow directly into nearby creeks or other waterways.
How Are Commercial Car Washes Any Better?
Commercial washers are equipped with high-pressure hoses and sophisticated machinery that limits the amount of water used. An automatic car wash will use about 30-45 gallons of water per vehicle according to a 2018 study by the International Carwash Association, typically less than half the amount of washing it at home.
The water savings don’t stop there. Instead of the water draining into local waterways, commercial car washes have ground drains where water is collected. The water is then taken to a treatment facility plant, where it can be filtered and reused. At least 60% of the water must go through this facility and be recycled and reused as required by California Law.
Eco-Friendly Car Washing At Home
Okay—so maybe you’re not a fan of paying to have your car washed. If you would rather wash your car at home, there are a few things you can do that will lower your water waste and water pollution. Here are 4 important tips for the do-it-yourselfers:
Wash your car on grass, gravel, or another porous surface that will help absorb the water and make sure it doesn’t go down a storm drain;
Wash your car using waterless cleaners (these new cleaners are designed to be sprayed onto your car and then wiped off with a rag—no water needed!)
If you’ve found more ways to reduce pollution, conserve more water while washing your car at home, or if you have thoughts about commercial car washing, please send your tips and comments to info@flowstobay.org.
The tools for growing and maintaining a beautiful, bright green, tightly edged, and short cut lawn are marketed to us every day. Whether it’s the right blend of seeds, a well-calibrated watering schedule, or a hefty dose of fertilizers and pesticides, the image of the perfect lawn is sold to us as an easy vision to manifest, over and over again. Though a healthy lawn can be a great amenity to a backyard or community park (game of soccer anyone?) it’s also true that lawns tend to wreak havoc on every ecosystem in which they are found.
If you added all the lawns in America together they would cover an area about the size of Florida. Consuming a whopping 7 billion gallons of water every day (a third of all residential water consumption), grass is the most abundantly irrigated plant in the country. In 2007 we dumped 78 million pounds of pesticides on residential lawns to keep them green. What’s the problem with all of this, you might ask? A whole heck of a lot, as you’ll find out below!
In the rest of this blog, we outline the primary ways in which lawns degrade nature and offer simple solutions that will help you transition to a more natural (and less demanding) landscape.
Pictured: A water-wise front yard planted with a diverse mix of native grasses and supported by Green Infrastructure that prevents runoff. Water-wise Tip: Grading the front yard slightly lower than the sidewalk will prevent runoff from polluting local creeks and allow for greater water infiltration into the garden.
Location, Location, Location! Can you guess where the seed that comes in your standard grass starter comes from? Here’s a hint: Kentucky Bluegrass is not from Louisville! It’s native to Europe, North Asia, and the mountains of Algeria and Morocco. Not only is most grass adapted from regional climates that don’t exist in San Mateo County (meaning they require lots of water, fertilizer, & pesticides to maintain), but more lawn = fewer plants that support industrious pollinators like bees and butterflies. Did you know that 75% of the world’s flowering plants and 35% of the world’s crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce? Our reliance on pollinators for the food we eat makes their decline a major concern—American beekeepers have lost about 30% of their colonies every year since 2006. Reducing your reliance on insecticides and planting a pollinator garden are both easy ways to help reconnect fragmented habitat and lend pollinators a helping hand. If you need help finding native plants to fill your yard, use this resource!
Health & Habitat Hazardous. Dogs that love to roam are particularly at risk of exposure to insecticides, and symptoms of poisoning can show up in a number of ways. But it’s not just our 4-legged furry friends we have to be worried about. Over time, pesticides accumulate in the soil where they can affect the worms and microorganisms that work to create healthy, nutrient-rich soils. When lawns are over-watered or are watered too quickly, they create runoff. The nitrogen and phosphorus that allow fertilizer to work wonders on the plants in our yards can also cause harmful algae blooms in our creeks and oceans. Pesticides can accumulate in the bodies of fish and in the sediment of the creeks and oceans we play in as well. Would you want to eat or swim in pesticides? If you’re ready to make the switch to a non-toxic or less-toxic pesticide alternative, click here!
Money & Aesthetics. Ditching the lawn can also be good for the wallet. When drought strikes and water prices go up, so do restrictions about water use, and water for landscapes is the first allowance to go! You can be water-wise and plan for the next drought by installing a rain barrel, greywater system, or—if you live in the area of a participating agency—cash in on the Lawn Be Gone! rebate (up to $4 per square foot) and buy some drought-tolerant plants with your dough! When dry weather rolls in again you’ll be happier having a thriving succulent garden than you will be with a brown lawn. Our friend Julia from Redwood City replaced her lawn with this lovely water-wise landscape:
So, it turns out being water-wise and building healthier communities and relationships with nature is just as easy as growing a lawn, and it makes a whole lot more sense (and in some cases more cents, too!). If you decide to take the plunge with a water-wise project at home, be sure to send us before/after photos—we’d love to share your story!!
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
Well, it’s official, the rainy season is upon us. It’s the time we bring out our raincoats and gaze up at that beautiful graphite sky hanging low overhead. It’s also the time of year that all of us at Flows To Bay feel our senses get a little keener. Like athletes training for the big event, we talk about the “rainy season” year round, so that when it actually comes we are ready to hit the ground running. Preventing stormwater pollution is the name of the game, and while we’re all on the same team, our individual actions matter! Here are four ways you can step to the plate and make great plays for clean water this season:
1. Always flush dog waste down the toilet or put it in the trash. I know you might be a little skeptical about how bad dog poop actually is for the environment. After all, there are tons of wild animals that poop outside all the time! And what about the nutrients in poop that are surely good for plants!? While to some extent both of those thoughts may be valid, it’s also true that pet waste contains lots of harmful viruses, bacteria, and parasites—including pathogens like E. coli, giardia, and salmonella. So is it really a problem? Yes, it is. Get this: last year, four out of the ten beaches on Heal the Bay’s “Beach Bummers” list for having the poorest water quality in California were located in San Mateo County. That’s almost half! And two of those four beaches were on the list due to high levels of fecal coliform bacteria. So remember friends—pet waste cannot be composted or left on the ground. Trash bin and toilet only!
2. Adopt a Drain. If you haven’t yet considered adoption, we’d like to urge you to take the plunge. There are a number of cities in San Mateo County (Burlingame, Pacifica, San Mateo, & South San Francisco) that offer official programs, and even if yours doesn’t you’re in luck. This is not a legally binding adoption—all you really need is a rake and some pride in your community! Keeping storm drains and their surrounding areas clean of leaves and trash not only protects our watersheds from high nutrient loads and critter-threatening plastics, but it helps prevent dangerous and potentially costly flooding.
3. Apply pesticides and fertilizers sparingly, and don’t forget to READ THE DIRECTIONS! You may be tempted to give your plants a boost this spring by laying on the fertilizers or want to protect them with a coat of pesticides. While we understand that fertilizers and pesticides may be necessary in certain situations, they can also be harmful to our waterways and ecosystems when applied in excess. Fertilizer that runs off into our waterways can cause damaging algal blooms, and pesticides can harm our local wildlife. If you must apply additives to your garden, check out this list of eco-friendly products, and follow these guidelines:
Spot Application: Only spray areas that need to be treated.
Watch for Wind & Rain: Only spray in low wind conditions to avoid spray drift. Don’t spray when the wind exceeds 10 mph, or when rain is in the forecast.
Protect Others: Ensure that all other people and animals are moved well away from the spraying area and that they stay away until it is safe to return.
4. Volunteer at a community cleanup. Sometimes we need an excuse to get outside. For this, there’s nothing better than an opportunity to do a great service to the environment while exploring your neighborhood, local park, or beach! Picking up trash is win-win: not only beautifying your neighborhood but directly reducing the potential for stormwater pollution. By removing debris that is likely to be picked up by runoff, you keep it from being transported to the nearest storm drain and flushed to the bay. The Pacifica Beach Coalition and the Surfrider Foundation both organize volunteer cleanup days throughout the year, and you can always check the Flows to Bay events calendar for upcoming event dates and information.
You don’t need to be a pro to step up to the plate and knock stormwater pollution out of the park. So go ahead, consider our list and make the team proud. We’ll see you out there!
