During heavy rains, the outflow pipe next to the lifeguard station at the foot of Grand Avenue carries stormwater to the beach, where it flows down the sand and into the ocean. Because the runoff carries pollutants, swimmers and surfers are warned to stay out of the ocean for 72 hours after it rains.
During the summer, the pipe should remain dry, but when landscape is overwatered along Mission Boulevard at Grand, the bacteria-laden water runs down the middle of one of the Pacific Beach’s most popular spots in the sand.
According to San Diego Coastkeeper officials, runoff is the single greatest pollution to coastal waters, and people get sick from it every year.
Gabriel Solmer, Coastkeeper’s legal director, is working with San Diego County cities to improve the region’s storm water programs and regulations to keep infrastructure, including the pipe at Grand Avenue, from spilling bacteria found growing in oils, pet waste, fertilizers and decomposing leaves and plant trimmings, into the city waterways, she said.
“I would say in the last five years we’ve made vast improvements,” Solmer said. “Six to 10 years ago not all these cities had these programs and now into 2008 we’ve made great strides. The issue now is enforcement.”
Solmer said Coastkeeper also cooperates with residents to spot runoff or pollution sources as they occur.
While residents and advocacy groups work the beachside, city officials work on public education and sewer infrastructure.
Jennifer Nichols Kearns, the city’s spokesperson for the storm water pollution prevention division, said that though the city can cite businesses for polluting, officials will focus on educating the public over the next year through a number of radio and TV spots along with other educational programs.
Promoting simple activities, such as sweeping sidewalks and driveways rather than hosing them down, along with picking up front yard debris, such as rotting leaves and pet waste, is the best way to protect the beaches and bays from bacteria, she said.
Fire and Rescue Department Fire Station 21, at 750 Grand Ave., receives and distributes information about pollution and other safety information, she said.
While the city can enforce storm water regulations, Nichols Kearns said no “silver bullet” exists to permanently stop storm water pollution. She said businesses and individuals should take responsibility.
“A lot of people think it’s the city government’s responsibility to clean the streets, but in reality if citizens don’t clean up after themselves, we land in a mess,” she said.
But the city does take some action as required by law.
The city’s sewage system maintenance is currently on schedule, which uses preventive measures, such as inspecting, repairing and replacing old pipes.
The city is also still waiting for funding for the Mission Bay Sewage Interceptor System (MBSIS).
City engineers have finished designing the system, which will prevent storm water from going into Mission Bay by routing it to the Point Loma Waste Water Treatment Plant.
The MBSIS will go out to bid as soon as the city finds $1.4 million it needs to build it, Nichols Kearns said.
The city’s proposed budget currently sets aside about $2.1 million for storm water projects, according to city documents.
Runoff has been a constant problem, with city, state and federal resources spent to fix the the problem over the last decade.
Since starting the city’s Coastal Low Flow Diversion Program in 1997, the system has been pumping runoff to the wastewater treatment plant during dry weather. The system is designed to automatically shut off during heavy rain to allow the water to flow to the ocean.
According to city documents the system should be working now to protect beaches at Tourmaline Surfing Park, Pacific Beach Park, La Jolla Shores and other coastal areas.
But if the outflow pipe at the end of Grand Avenue is any indication, the system may be due for a checkup.
For more information on storm water prevention, visit www.sandiego.gov/thinkblue.