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.
- Recycle Properly: Take all excess pesticides to a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) facility.
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!
