Education & Outreach

What is storm water pollution?

Storm water pollution is untreated water that drains from streets, parking lots, driveways, sidewalks and other impervious surfaces.

Where does it go?

Into the storm drain system. This system is NOT connected to the sewer system, which means storm water is untreated. The storm drain system is made up of curbs, gutters, and pipes. All water that drains off our yard, streets, and parking lots goes into the storm drain system and ends up in our creeks, rivers, and ocean completely untreated!

What can I do to help?

• Pick up after your pets
• properly dispose of trash
• wash paint brushes in the sink
• sweep it up, don't hose it down
• dispose of hazardous materials by calling Escondido Disposal at (760) 745-3202

Other Best Management Practices to Protect Water Quality

Landscaping

• Decrease the use of lawn and garden care products such as pesticides, weed killers, and chemical fertilizers. Consider using non-toxic pest control methods. 
• Avoid over watering which may wash these products into the storm drains. 
• Use rain barrels to collect rainwater. For rebates: socalwatersmart.com 

Pets

• Protect yourself and your family by picking up pet waste at home and in public. 
• Take a bag when you walk your pets. Dispose of the bag in a trash can. 

In the Kitchen

• Do not pour cooking grease down the drain. Grease that is poured down the drain eventually hardens and causes sewer back ups, and spills which can contaminate our creeks, lakes, river, and ocean. 
• Collect grease in a disposable container. Wait for the grease to cool, then dispose of it in a trash can.

Automotive Care

• Wash your car at a commercial car wash where they recycle the wash water or on a pervious area to avoid runoff into storm drains. 
• If washing your car in Escondido, you must use a hose with a shut-off nozzle. 
• Fix fluid leaks immediately. Collect used oil in sealed containers and take it to a certified center. For the certified center nearest you, call1-800 CLEANUP. 

Litter

• Make sure to always put trash in its place. 
• Secure lids on trash containers. 
• Keep a litter bag in your car.

Prevent pollution and water waste with these important tips for reducing water runoff from yards, lawns, and gardens—contributors to urban pollution in our local waterways.

• Adjust sprinklers so they don't spray onto streets and sidewalks. 
• Repair leaking or broken sprinklers. 
• Water in short cycles to allow water to absorb into the soil. 
• Water before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Cooler temperatures reduce evaporation. 
• Replace turf with drought-tolerant or native plants. Visit www.WaterSmartSD.org for current rebate and incentive programs. 
• Turn off sprinklers during and within 48-hours of a rain event. 

Yard drains including French and sub-surface drains are intended to carry stormwater from your property to the curb. However, they are not meant to carry water from other sources such as irrigation runoff or wash water from your property. This additional water from these activities may carry pollutants like pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers into our waterways, and excess ponded water may also create a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Here are a few important tips for preventing backyard runoff from entering the street or storm drain:

• Redirect sprinkler heads away from yard drains.
• Use a broom or mop to clean your yard, patio, and furniture.
• Temporarily cover your yard drain with a mat except during storms.
• Avoid application of fertilizers and pesticides prior to rainfall.

Both the dust you wash off and the products you use to wash with may pollute our waterways. Wash water can carry these pollutants into the storm drain system. The City of Escondido’s Environmental Programs Division supports businesses in their efforts to prevent pollution by offering these important Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs): 

• Keep containment recovery area as close as possible to vehicle washing. 
• Sweep and pick up trash, debris, and sediment within wash area. 
• Contain and recover all wash water with berm and vacuum system. 
• Whenever possible, wash vehicles over a pervious surface (landscaping, soil, etc). 
• Conserve water by using a pressure washing system with a shut-off nozzle or use dry cleaning methods. 
• Dispose of wash water into landscaping or into the sewer system. 
• Use non-toxic and less hazardous cleaning products. 
• Reduce or eliminate the use of soaps, degreasers, or other cleaning agents. 
• Keep materials and equipment necessary for containment and recovery of wash water in all vehicles and in a centrally accessible location.

Releasing pollutants directly or indirectly into the storm drain system or waterways is a violation of Escondido’s Municipal Code (Chapter 22). Your business is required to comply with the Municipal Code and these minimum BMPs.

Vehicles, including boats, RVs and trailers, provide a way for residents to enjoy all that San Diego County has to offer, but when water from washing these vehicles gets into the storm drains, it can cause problems for our waterways. Use these important tips for preventing vehicle wash water from entering the storm drain:

• Use a commercial car wash whenever possible. 
• Commercial car washes use water recycling systems. 
• Wash your vehicles on a landscaped area to prevent runoff and allow the ground to filter the water naturally. 
• Use a hose with a shut-off nozzle to save water.
•  Use soap sparingly and pour your bucket of soapy water down the sink when you are done and never into the street. 

Swimming pools, spas, and decorative fountains are part of the Southern California lifestyle, but when not properly maintained, they can cause problems for our waterways. Prevent pollution with these important tips for pool and spa maintenance:

• Follow manufacturer's instructions for all pool chemicals. 
• Dispose of liquid waste from pool and spa filters into a sink drain. Dispose of solids from pool and spa filters into a trash bag and then rinse the filter into a landscaped area or sink drain. 
• Contact Public Works before deciding to drain your pool at 760-839-4668 
• Drain water into a storm drain only if the water is within a pH of 6 to 9 and is reduced to 0-mg/L of chlorine or bromine and does not contain algaecides or acid wash. 
• Control algae with chlorine, organic polymers, or other alternatives to copper-based chemicals. 
• Do not drain salt water pools into the storm drain system.

Spills at construction sites can flow into storm drains and pollute the ocean or bay. These spills are prohibited by law. The following Best Management Practices (BMPs) are to be implemented at all construction sites in the City to protect storm drains and minimize pollution:

Earthmoving Equipment

All earth moving equipment should be stored on site. Maintenance should also be conducted on site. 

Washout Area

The disposal of "wet" construction materials should be handled in the washout area. This includes paint, stucco, and concrete. Use a sand berm or equal and tarp to prevent run-off in nearby areas. The washout area must be checked and maintained daily to ensure compliance. 

Soil & Grading 

Stock piled soil and gravel must be stored on site and covered. Dust control shall be maintained throughout all phases on construction. During the rainy season (October 1 - June 1) additional gravel bags, tarps, Visqueen, etc. must be stored on-site for emergency repair.

Concrete Trucks/Pumpers

Pumpers must be surrounded by perimeter controls, such as gravel bags and straw wattles. Tarps also must be placed beneath concrete pumpers at all times. Residual materials must be cleaned up as well.

Perimeter Controls

Gravel bags, silt fences, and straw wattles are acceptable perimeter controls, and shall be used to surround the entire site. Avoid running over perimeter controls with vehicles or heavy equipment, as they can damage the materials. Keep extra absorbent materials and/or a wet/dry vacuum on site to quickly pick up spills. Sites must also be checked and maintained daily.

(3" Gravel With fabric Underlay) Stabilized Construction Entrance

Tracks and trials off site are not acceptable. All equipment must use the stabilized construction entrance. Alternately, do not drive on/off unpaved areas.

Dumpsters

Always cover dumpsters with a rollback tarp. Dumpsters shall be located on-site. Never allow debris on the ground.

Building Materials/Staging Areas

Construction materials must be stored on site at all times. Building materials must always be covered when not in use to prevent run-off caused by wind or rain.

Paint & Stucco

All paint and stucco material sstored on the site must be contained and covered. It is illegal for contractors to wash out paint brushes into the street or dump any residue in the sotrm drain. Paint brushes and spray guns shall be washed/cleaned out into hazardous materials drum or back into its original container and disposed of properly.

Although they are natural substances, soil and dirt that enter the storm drain system can cause problems for our waterways by filling in streams and blocking sunlight that organisms need to live. Prevent pollution with these important tips for preventing soil and sediment from entering the storm drain system:

• Plant shrubs or ground cover and use mulch to keep topsoil in place and prevent erosion. 
• Use gravel to stabilize unpaved parking areas and avoid spreading dirt into the street. 
• Plan grading or terracing projects during the dry season if possible (typically May – Sept.). 
• Cover stockpiles of soil, mulch, and gravel. 
• Use drought-tolerant or native plants to reduce water use. Visit www.WaterSmartSD.org for current rebate and incentive programs. 
• Install physical barriers like rocks or garden edging between your yard and the street or sidewalk.

The City of Escondido’s Environmental Programs Division supports businesses in their efforts to prevent pollution by offering these important Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs):

Grease Management 

• Have a licensed grease hauler service your trap or interceptor on the cleaning schedule prescribed by the Environmental Compliance. Keep records from trap and interceptor cleanings. 
• Regularly clean and inspect your grease bins. Monitor liquid levels to avoid overfilling. 
• Capture and store used oil, grease, and oily liquids in a grease bin. Do not pour used oil, grease, and oily liquids down a sink, floor drain, storm drain, or into a dumpster. 
• Grease bins must have a secured lid or covering, and If stored outside must be under a cover with secondary containment. 
• Store grease bins securely on level ground or in a contained area to prevent bins from tipping over. 
• Regularly clean grease hood vents (rooftop grease exhaust fans). 

Indoors 

• Sweep and mop floors daily. Mop water must be disposed of indoors in a mop sink or other sewer drain. 
• Use three-eights (3/8) inch or smaller screens on drains to trap solids. 
• Wash mats, filters, and garbage cans in a mop sink or designated area with a drain to the sewer system.
• If mats are too large to clean indoors, contract with a mat-cleaning service. 
• Pour any water containing soap, bleach, or disinfectants into a sink.

Outdoors

• Clean litter and food waste daily by sweeping and vacuuming. 
• Provide trash cans with lids to discourage littering. 
• Keep dumpster areas clean and free from debris by using dry methods such as sweeping and vacuuming. Keep dumpster lids closed when not in active use. If there are no dumpster lids, construct a permitted cover over the enclosure. 
• Monitor for irrigation run-off and coordinate repairs to prevent discharge to the storm drain. 
• If outdoor areas need to be power washed, there must be containment in place for the liquid and a recovery method such as a vacuum system to capture and dispose of it. 
• Dispose of all water into a drain to the sewer system. Never let wash water enter the storm drain. 

Employee Training

• Train all employees on stormwater BMPs, pollution prevention, and spill clean up. 
• Maintain training records on site.

For more information and other ideas, contact Environmental Compliance at the Hale Avenue Resource Recovery Facility (HARRF) at 760-839-6290.

 Releasing pollutants directly or indirectly into the storm drain system or waterways is a violation of Escondido’s Municipal Code (Chapter 22). Your business is required to comply with the Municipal Code and these minimum BMPs.

Industrial and commercial business have a responsibility to comply with state and federal regulations to prevent adverse environmental impacts as a result of business activities. Pollution prevention through the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) eliminates harmful pollutants from entering local waterways untreated via the storm drain system.

For more information, BMPs and resources, visit our Industrial & Commerical Business page.