Storm Water Pollution A Threat to Ocean Health

Gina Scachetti, B.S. Biological Sciences

Torrance Fire Department, NPDES Inspector

Storm Water Pollution

Keeping our oceans clean for future generations

http://www.shiftingbaselines.org/videos/home_surfrider.htm

What is the Water Cycle?

The Water Cycle is the continuous movement of water on, above, or below the ground and in different phases (solid as ice, liquid, and gas).

The Water Cycle is a true cycle- there is no beginning or end.

What is a Watershed? A watershed is an

area of land that catches rain and snow. This rain and snow drains into a common waterway (marsh, stream, river, lake, groundwater, or ocean).

Homes, farms, ranches, forests, small towns, big cities, and more can make up a watershed.

Watershed Example

Parts of a Watershed

When rain or snow falls, it is collected at the beginning of streams and rivers called headwaters. These headwaters are usually found in mountains and/or hills.

From the headwaters, water flows down mountains, through valleys, and empties into coastal waters.

As water flows from the mountains to the sea, water passes through areas of farming, housing, businesses, recreation, and conservation.

Water picks up pollutants as it passes through these areas.

Do We Live in a Watershed?

YES! The Los Angeles Region is divided into 4

watersheds: the Los Angeles River Watershed, the Santa Monica Bay (Upper and Lower) Watershed, the Ballona Creek Watershed, and the Dominguez Channel Watershed.

Santa Monica, LA River, Ballona Creek, and Dominguez Channel Watersheds

Torrance is Located in 2 Watersheds

Santa Monica Bay Watershed:

Includes Ballona Wetlands, Malaga Cove, Redondo Beach, Torrance Beach, Venice Beach and more…

Dominguez Channel Watershed:

Includes Dominguez Channel, Long Beach Harbor, LA Harbor, Cabrillo Beach, and more…

Why is This Important?

EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IMPACTS THE QUALITY OF WATER IN OUR WATERSHED AND OUR COAST!

http://www.thinkbluesd.org/

How Do People Impact a Watershed?

What is Storm Water Pollution?

Stormwater Pollution occurs when rain or snow flows over the ground and picks up debris, chemicals, dirt, and other types of pollutants. This polluted rain or snow can then enter storm drains and flow directly into a stream, river, lake, wetland, or ocean.

What is Non-Storm Water Pollution?

Any water that is not rain water or snow melt.

Such as:Garden hosesCar washing, and Other activities that pick up pollutants

from streets, parking lots, driveways, and yards and carries them through the storm drain system and straight to the ocean

http://www.thinkbluesd.com/

Types of Pollutants

What is a pollutant and what types of pollutants are found in my community and

local beach?

What is a Pollutant?

A pollutant is any substance introduced into the environment that adversely affects the usefulness of resources or the health of humans, animals, or ecosystems.

What Types of Pollutants are Found in My Community and Local Beaches?

Marine Debris:plastics, glass, metals, wood

Sediments:from construction sites, fields, unvegetated areas

Excess Nutrients:fertilizers, animal waste (i.e. like your

dog),sewage, yard waste (leaves and grass clippings) Chemicals:

pesticides, detergents (soap), oil and grease, metals, acids

Pathogens:bacteria and viruses

Where do these Pollutants come from?

Why are These Pollutants Bad for the Environment?

Marine Debris can choke, suffocate, disable, and kill aquatic life

Sediment can cloud water and make it difficult for plants to grow and fish to lay

eggs.

Excess nutrients can cause algal blooms that can kill aquatic plants, fish, and other

aquatic animals

Solvents, pesticides, paint, oil, and other chemicals can cause fish to become toxic. People

can become sick from eating these toxic fish.

Bacteria and viruses can create health hazards resulting in beach closures.

Sources of Pollutants

Where do these pollutants come from?

What is Point Source Pollution?

Point Source Pollution: Pollution that comes out of a

pipeFrom a business or a home as

wastewater or sewageAnything that goes down a

sewer drain (sink, toilet, floor drain), travels through pipes to a wastewater treatment plant, and is discharged from a pipe into a stream, river, lake, or ocean

Point Source Pollution At My Home:Every time I wash my hands, brush my teeth, do the

dishes, take a bath, go to the bathroom, etc. I am polluting the water.

But, this water travels from my home through pipes to a sewage treatment plant.

At the plant the water is treated and almost all of the pollutants are taken out. Then the water goes from the sewage plant through another pipe and is dumped in the ocean.

Point Source Pollution

What is Non-Point Source Pollution (NPS)?

Non-Point Source Pollution: Many sources of pollution from all over the communityAnything on the ground at businesses, homes,or roads that gets

washed off during rainLargest source of stormwater pollution

How Does My Community Contribute to NPS Pollution?

BUSINESS TYPE OF POLLUTANT

EXAMPLE ACTIVITIES

Restaurants Organic Material Fats, grease Washing floor mats and dumping mop water outside

Marine Debris Trash Trash in the dumpster area

Pathogens Bacteria Food in the dumpster area

Auto Service, Dealers, Gas Stations

Organic Material Oil, grease, detergents

Flushing fluids from the engines, washing cars and other equipment outside, tires

Metals Copper, lead, nickel, zinc

Fluids leaked from the car, sanding the car, painting the car

Marine Debris Trash Old tires, boxes of products

Toxic Chemicals Solvents, chlorinated compounds, acids, benzene, toluene, MTBE,

Parts washing, gasoline, other fluids

Industry Marine Debris Trash Packaging, old

equipment Metals Whatever is used at

the facility (Al, Cu, Pb, etc)

Machine shop, metal shavings/clippings

Toxic Chemicals Oil, acetone, sulfuric acid, whatever is used at the facility

Cleaners, raw materials

How Can Businesses Prevent NPS Pollution?

Restaurants should…

Dump their mop water in a sink or toilet

Keep dumpster areas clean by sweeping

Wash their floor mats inside the restaurant

Auto Repair Shops, Dealerships, and Gas Stations Should…

Use drip pans to catch spills

Recycle all oil, coolant, etc.

Store all liquids on secondary containment or undercover

How Do My Family and I Contribute to NPS Pollution?

ACTIVITY TYPE OF POLLUTANT

EXAMPLE OF POLLUTANTS

Car Washing Organic Material Detergents, oil, dirt Toxic Chemicals Depends Automotive Organic Material Oil, grease Metals Copper, Lead, Nickel, Zinc Toxic Chemicals Depends Lawn and Garden Organic Material Grass clippings, leaves Nutrients Pesticides, fertilizers Trash Depends Sediment Paint Metals Depends Toxic chemicals Depends Trash Marine Debris Candy wrappers, cigarette

butts, fast food bags and cups

Pet Waste Organic Materials Feces (poop), pet shampoo Pathogens Fecal coliform Household Cleaning Products

Toxic Chemicals Depends

Swimming Pool Discharges

Pathogens Bacteria

Toxic Chemicals Chlorine

What Can I Do to Prevent NPS Pollution?

Car Washing

Wash the car on a grassed area rather than on the street or driveway.

This way all the soap and dirt will not run into the storm drain.

OR Take your car to a car wash

Automotive

If changing fluids (like oil), take the waste oil to a local hazardous waste drop off center. Do not pour the oil down a storm drain.

Keep your car in good condition. If your car is leaking place a drip pan underneath the leak and clean the spilled oil with kitty litter.

Take old car batteries to the local hazardous waste drop off center.

Lawn and Garden Care

Use a broom or rake to clean up lawn clippings and leaves (Do not hose them into the street).

Recycle lawn clippings and leaves- use as compost or mulch

Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly and as directed. Do not use them before a rain.

Do not over water your lawn. Try a soaker hose instead of sprinklers.

Trash

Throw all trash that can’t be recycled in a trash can or bin.

Whenever possible, turn trash into useful products and buy recycled products.

Paint

Paint Brushes: Rinse water-based paints in a sink and clean oil-based paints with paint thinner. Or rinse in the garden or lawn

Take the used thinner to a local hazardous waste collection.

Do not wash brushes in the street.

Pet Waste

Pick up your pet’s droppings. Droppings left on the street can get washed into the ocean. Pet waste has harmful bacteria and provides excess nutrients to waterways.

Wash your pets in a sink, tub, or on the grass.

Household Cleaning Products

Household cleaning products, like cleaners, insect spray, and weed killers, can be toxic if washed into the coast.

Try to buy non-toxic chemicals and clean up spills with absorbent. Dispose of at a local hazardous waste collection center.

Swimming Pools and Spas

When draining swimming pools, make sure water drains to the sewer system because chlorine is harmful to the aquatic environment.

Or check with the city for guidelines on the disposal of pool water to the storm drain system.

The LawClean Water Act of 1972- Objective is “to restore

and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s Water”; may not discharge pollutants to the “waters of the United States”

National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)- Requires industries, municipalities, and construction permits for discharges to the storm drain system.

Coastal Zone Reauthorization Amendments of 1990- Requires states to put together non-point source pollution control programs.

Don’t Trash Our Future

http://www.thinkbluesd.com/

Is There Anything Else I Can Do To Help?

Know Your Coast!

Do you know what habitats we have along the southern California coast and what kinds of animals live in those waters?

By knowing the habitats and the animals, you understand how we are destroying their homes.

Also, you see that it is very important for us to watch what we do so that we do not further injure the environment.

Local Habitat and Animal Hotspots Ballona Lagoon Marine Preserve

www.blmp.org Madrona Marsh

www.tprd.com/marsh.htm Abalone Cove Shoreline Park

www.palosverdes.com/rpv/recreationparks/AbaloneCoveShoreline/index.cfm

Bolsa Chica Wetlands

www.bolsachica.org Upper Newport Bay

www.newportbay.org ; www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/restore.html San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary

www.seaandsageaudubon.org Corona Del Mar (tide pools)

GET INVOLVED!!!!

One of the best ways to learn and to help is by getting involved by volunteering at local environmental organizations.

Local Organizations These are some of my favorites. Aquarium of the Pacific

www.aquariumofthepacific.org Surfrider Foundation South Bay Chapter

www.surfrider-southbay.org SEA Lab

www.lacorps.org/index_SEALAB2.html Heal the Bay

www.healthebay.org California Coastal Commission

www.coastforyou.org Ocean Institute

www.ocean-institute.org Camp SEA Lab

www.sealabmontereybay.org

Become a California Coastal Steward

The California Coastal Commission has put together a pledge. Anyone of any age can pledge to improve the environment and become a CA Coastal Steward. It is very simple. First, go to the following website.

www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/steward/pledgeform.html Select 5 action items that you will pledge to

accomplish. When you are finished you will fill out the contact

information and submit the form via the internet. When you have completed all the items on your action

list, you send the list back to the CA Coastal Commission and they will send you a free tote bag and participation certificate. And you will have done something good for the environment.

Want To Learn More?

Here are some sites with puzzles, interactive games, and more information on stormwater pollution for kids:

www.water-ed.org www.ocwatersheds.com/PublicEducation/pe_introduction.as

p www.thinkbluesd.org http://water.usgs.gov/education.html http://nemo.uconn.edu/index2.htm www.lastormwater.com/WPD/educationk6.htm www.aquariumofthepacific.com www.epa.gov/owow/nps/kids/ www.stormwatercoalition.org/html/kp/kp/html

Wyland Ocean Challengewww.wylandoceanchallenge.org

And Remember….

No Dumping- It All Ends Up in the Rivers, Lakes, Streams, and Oceans and…

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOO!

References

California Coastal Commission. Waves, Wetlands, and Watersheds: Science Activity Guide. p.123-125, 126-130, 138-140, 142-145

 

California Coastal Commission. Become a Coastal Steward. www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/steward/pledge_form.html 6/14/05.

 

California Stormwater Quality Association. Stormwater Best Management Practices Handbook, Municipal- Source Control Fact Sheets. Jan 2003.

 

City of Los Angeles. Glossary of Storm Water Terms. www.lastormwater.com 5/25/05

 

City of Los Angeles. Stormwater BMPs: Automotive Repair and Industry. www.lastormwater.com/WPD.education/bmps/autobmp.htm 1/18/05.

 

City of Los Angeles. Stormwater BMPS: Restaurant and Food Industry. www.lastormwater.com/WPD/education/bmps/restrntbmp.htm 1/18/05.

 

City of Los Angeles. Tips To Prevent Storm Water Pollution. www.lastormwater.com 5/25/05.

City of Los Angeles. What is a Watershed?. www.lastormwater.com/WPD/general/watrshed.htm 1/18/05.

 

Orange County Urban Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program Handout. www.ocwatersheds.com/PublicEducation/pe_brochures.asp 5/17/05.

 

U.S Environmental Protection Agency. Coastal Water Factoids: Oceans and Coastal Protection: Your Coastal Watershed. www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/factsheets/fact1.html 4/19/04.

References Continued…

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Coastal Water Factoids: Protecting Coastal Waters from Non-point Source Pollution. www.epa.go/owow/oceans/factsheets.html 5/17/05.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. After the Storm: A Citizen’s Guide to Understanding Stormwater. http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwatermonth.cfm 4/20/05.

 

University of Purdue. What is a Watershed?. www.ctic.purdue.edu/KYW/glossary/whatisaws.html 6/3/05.

 

USGS The Water Cycle http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercyclesummarytext.html 6/1/05.

 

Wyland Ocean Challenge. www.wylandoceanchallenge.org 6/29/05.

Pictures

Slide 3 The Water Cycle http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercyclehi.html

 Slide 4 Example of a Watershed www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/whatis.html

 Slide 5 Example of a Watershed www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/whatis.html

 Slide 8 L.A. County Watersheds www.lastormwater.com/WPD/general/watrshed.htm

 Slide 15 Oil Slick on Water http://lastormwater.com/WPD/education/bmps/photogallry.htm

 Slide 17 Pollutant Types http://lastormwater.com/WPD/education/bmps/photogallry.htm

 Slide 17 Construction Runoff http://protectingwater.com/construction.html

 Slide 17 Pipe Discharge www.epa.gov/maia/html/fecal/html

 Slide 19 Sea Lion in Trash http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/OCEAN_PLANET/IMAGES/G-76.gif

Slide 19 Elephant Seal in Fishing Line http://www.whoi.edu/science/B/people/kamaral/plasticsarticle.html

 Slide 19 Seal in Plastics www.whoi.edu/science/B/people/kamaral/EntangledSeals.html

 Slide 20 Cloudy Water http://www.epa.gov/weatherchannel/whatyoucando.html

 Slide 20 Salmon http://fishgame.idaho.gov/wildlife/wetlands/salmon.cfm

 Slide 20 Sediment in Creek http://www.taiga.net/yourYukon/col084.html

 Slide 20 Sediment From Pipe http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wat/wq/nps/NPS_Pollution/NPS/htm

 Slide 21 Fish Kills www.redtide.whoi.edu/hab/foodweb/fishkills.html

 Slide 21 Hong Kong Red Tide www.whoi.edu/redtide/rtphotos/rtphotos.html

Slide 22 Shellfish Sign http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/regulatory/vessel_sewage/

 Slide 22 Run-off From Field http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/ex-bmp/html

Slide 22 Cuyahoga River Fire of 1969 http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/photos/ships/10.html

Pictures Continued

Slide 22 Paint Can Sm http://lastormwater.com/WPD/education/photogallry.htm

 Slide 23 Cow NPS http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/regulatory/mprsa/beyond.html

 Slide 23 Fecal Coliform www.epa.gov/maia/html/fecal/html

 Slide 23 Beach Closure Signs www.surfrider.com

 Slide 25 Pollution Dumping Into Pond www.aswcc.arkansas.gov/kidpages/PS_orNPSA.htm

 Slide 27 Point Source Pollution www.lakecountyohio?soil/pollution.htm

 Slide 27 Point Source Pollution www.cacaponinstitute.org/understanding_pollution.htm

 Slide 28 Trash on Skidrow in LA http://lastormwater.com/WPD/education/bmps/photogallry.htm

 Slide 28 Oil Flowing Into Storm Drain www.aswcc.arkansas.gov/kidpages/PS_orNPSA.htm

 Slide 31 BMPs for Restaurants and Food Industry www.lastormwater.com/WPD/education/bmps/restrntbmp.htm

Slide 32 BMPs for Auto Service Shops www.lastormwater.com/WPD.education/bmps/autobmp.htm

 Slide 35 Car Washing http://lastormwater.com/WPD/education/bmps/carwash.htm

 Slide 35 Car Washing www.earthwater-stencils.com/poster_carwash.html

 Slide 36 Car Leaking Oil www.surfrider.com

 Slide 37 Lawn and Garden Care http://lastormwater.com/WPD/education/bmps/photogallry.htm

 Slide 38 Trash in Iron Grates http://lastormwater.com/WPD/education/bmps/photogallry.htm

 Slide 38 Rat Picture http://lastormwater.com/WPD/education/oceanbgn.htm

 Slide 39 Paint Brush and People Painting Pictures http://lastormwater.com/WPD/education/bmps/painting.htm

 Slide 40 Pet Waste www.lastormwater.com/WPD/education/bmps/petwaste.htm

Pictures Continued and Movies

Slide 41 Household Cleaning Products

Slide 42 Swimming Pool Picture http://phoenix.about.com/library/blpooltypes01.htm

Slide 52 Wyland Ocean Challenge www.wylandoceanchallenge.org

 Slide 55 Storm Drain Stencil www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/factsheets/fact1.html

 Slide 57 Girls Participating in Beach Clean-up www.surfrider.com

Movies

Shifting Baselines in the Surf www.shiftingbaselines.org/videos/home_surfrider.htm

 

Stormwater and You: Solutions for the 21st Century; Watersheds: General Introduction; Don’t Trash Our Future www.thinkbluesd.com