City of Manhattan Beach
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Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program
Did you know that run-off water from storms and other sources runs directly to the ocean without benefit of any treatment? It's true. For this reason, operators of storm drain systems (like the City of Manhattan Beach) must comply with the conditions of what is known as the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. Some of the requirements of the permit are to:
- Conduct community education about the effects of storm drain pollution and ways to reduce or prevent storm drain pollution;
- Train City employees as to the ways to reduce or prevent storm drain pollution from City activities;
- Conduct educational site visits to business targeted as potential sources of polluted run off;
- Prepare budgets and annual status reports as to NPDES activities for submission to the local enforcement agency.
When it rains, water collects in the streets and travels through the gutters into a catch basin. The stormwater is then transported through underground pipes called storm drains. The water empties from the storm drains and eventually flows out of a pipe and directly into the ocean. Unlike the sewer system, which carries wastewater (sewage) from indoor drains (ie. sink, toilet, and bathtub) to a wastewater treatment plant like Hyperion, the storm drain system releases storm water directly into the ocean untreated. The reason for this is simple: when it rains, wastewater treatment plants cannot handle the vast amount of run-off that is created almost instantly. This means that any trash, organic materials, or hazardous chemicals which are dumped in the street can pollute our ocean.
DIY? Although green waste is organic and will biodegrade eventually when it enters the ocean, the clippings require oxygen to break down. The more green waste in the ocean the more oxygen is needed to break it down, which means less oxygen is available for marine life to survive. The bottom line is that green waste washed into the ocean through our gutters and storm drains can suffocate fish and other marine wildlife. If you see anyone washing foreign material (e.g., paint, lawn clippings, concrete, etc.) into the gutters and storm drains, please call our storm water hotline at 1-888-CleanLA.