WHY do we need stormwater management?
Urban and stormwater runoff is the single greatest source of pollution to California’s coastal waters. Runoff potentially contains a host of pollutants such as trash, debris, oils and grease, metals and toxic chemicals that adversely affect lakes, rivers and coastal waters. Municipalities collect and discharge stormwater containing urban runoff through stormwater conveyance systems, and reduce pollutants to the maximum extent practicable before discharging to bodies of water. HOW does stormwater runoff affect me? • Runoff from property pollutes the stormwater system. Your local government must pay for reducing the pollution from the stormwater system that originates in homes, local businesses and public land. • Stormwater is the number one source of pollution of Southern Californias famed beaches, central to Californias multi-billion dollar coastal tourism and recreation economy. • Beach closures due to stormwater pollution have had significant and costly impacts on local economy. HOW
