What is stormwater pollution and urban runoff?

Urban runoff is any water flowing on urban surfaces. This includes flows from storms, as well as flows in dry weather from sources such as over-irrigation and car washing. When urban runoff flows over paved areas like streets, parking lots, and roofs, it collects and carries pollutants on the ground such as litter, pet waste, pesticides, fertilizers, and motor oil. This "toxic soup" is called urban runoff pollution, and when it is caused by rain we call it stormwater pollution.

Stormwater pollution flows through underground storm drain pipes and open flood control channels into our local waterways and the ocean. In Glendale our local waterways are the Los Angeles River and two of its tributaries, Verdugo Wash and the Burbank Western Channel. The Los Angeles River flows to the ocean at the San Pedro Bay. To protect our waterways, we must prevent and control stormwater pollution.

What are the effects of stormwater pollution?

Stormwater pollution poses a health threat to aquatic life, as well as to people who recreate in waterways and the ocean. Common stormwater pollutants include bacteria, toxic chemicals, and trash. After a rain event, high levels of bacteria in waterways and the ocean can make people sick and result in beach closures. This impacts swimming, beach tourism, fishing, and boating. Some pollutants such as pesticides and heavy metals can be toxic to marine life. Plastic trash may also degrade and accumulate toxic chemicals.  Aquatic life ingest these toxic chemicals and pass them along the food chain. This can result in the contamination of locally caught seafood, making it unsafe for consumption. Trash can also suffocate, entangle, and starve aquatic life.

How do we protect our waterways from stormwater pollution?

Follow the steps below:

1. Do not dump waste or discharge wastewater into the storm drain system. It is a violation of state regulation and Municipal Code Chapter 13.42. Outside of pure stormwater, most discharges to the storm drains are wastewater. The exceptions include natural flows, emergency firefighting flows, and a few “conditionally” allowed discharges such as pool dewatering and residential vehicle washing. The following is the full list of conditionally allowed discharges, along with the conditions to meet:

Conditionally allowed discharges to the storm drains

2. Report spills and illicit discharges of wastewater. To report a spill or an illicit discharge of wastewater, please contact the City of Glendale Public Works Department during normal business hours at (818) 548-3950.  During non-business hours please contact the Los Angeles County 24-Hour Water Pollution Reporting Hotline at 1-888-CLEAN-LA (1-888-253-2652). For emergencies call 911.

3. Follow practices to prevent or control pollution during storm events. The practice to follow depends on the source of pollution. The following are practices for residents, land developers, and businesses:

Residents. Follow the best pollution prevention practices illustrated in this flier and listed below. Ensure that any companies providing services for you are following these practices as well. In addition, consider participating in a local cleanup event, such as California’s annual coastal cleanup day which is held in September.

Construction and Land Development

• During land disturbance activities, control erosion and prevent sediment and construction wastes from discharging to the street or storm drains.
• Projects that require a soil disturbance permit with the City must implement at a minimum the Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Tables 7 and/or 8 of the State’s Regional Municipal NPDES Permit (where applicable). The purpose of the BMPs is to prevent erosion and sediment loss, and the discharge of construction wastes. This flier illustrates many of these BMPs at a small construction site.
• Sites that disturb an acre of land or more must apply for and comply with the State General NPDES Permit for Construction Activities.

Also note that certain land development projects will require the construction or installation of permanent stormwater capture and treatment systems.

Industrial businesses, including manufacturing, production, transportation, and storage

• Protect raw and waste material from exposure to precipitation.
• If your business’s activities require coverage under the State General NPDES Permit for Industrial Activities (IGP), you must receive coverage before beginning or continuing industrial operations. Coverage is based on SIC Code. Click here for more information.
• For facilities under the IGP with No Exposure Certification (NEC), follow the practices in this flier to assist in retaining NEC status.

Commercial businesses. Protect raw and waste material from exposure to precipitation. See the following fliers for sector-specific pollution prevention practices: Food Service, Auto Service, and General Business (English, Spanish).

Should you need assistance complying with the City’s stormwater pollution prevention program, please contact Ruel Villaluna, Senior Civil Engineer in the Public Works Department at 818-548-3945 or at rvillaluna@glendaleca.gov.

Municipal Storm Water Program

The Municipal Storm Water Program regulates storm water discharges from municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) throughout California. U.S. EPA defines an MS4 as a conveyance or system of conveyances (including roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels, or storm drains) owned or operated by a State.

Pursuant to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act) section 402(p), storm water permits are required for discharges from an MS4 serving a population of 100,000 or more. The Municipal Storm Water Program manages the Phase I Permit Program (serving municipalities over 100,000 people), the Phase II Permit Program (for municipalities less than 100,000), and the Statewide Storm Water Permit for the State of California Department of Transportation. The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) and Regional Water Quality Control Boards (collectively, the Water Boards) implement and enforce the Municipal Storm Water Program.

What does the City do to protect our waterways from stormwater pollution?

The City runs a number of stormwater pollution prevention programs. This includes:

• Removing pollutants through services such as street sweeping, storm drain cleaning, and litter pick-up
• Leading or partnering in the construction of projects that capture and treat polluted urban runoff
• Installing trash capture screens over public storm drain inlets
• Ensuring certain land development projects capture or treat polluted stormwater
• Ensuring businesses and construction sites implement pollution prevention practices
• Investigating and resolving complaints of polluted discharges
• Educating the public in pollution prevention and encouraging their participation
• Cooperating and sharing costs with neighboring agencies for water quality monitoring, compliance reporting, and project planning

To see the implementation status of both regional and local stormwater projects and programs, visit the County’s reporting module. The City pays for these projects and programs through a combination of fees, the City’s General Fund, and the Safe Clean Water Program (Measure W).

The Safe, Clean Water Program

The Safe, Clean Water (SCW) Program–also known as Measure W–provides local, dedicated funding to increase our local water supply, improve water quality, and protect public health. The funding comes from a special parcel tax of 2.5 cents per square foot of impermeable surface area on properties within the LA County Flood Control District (District). The Program is divided into a District Program, a Regional Program, and a Municipal Program.

If you are curious about projects funded by Measure W, visit the SCW’s website at safecleanwaterla.org. To see Glendale’s Measure W Municipal Program funds, view the City’s Annual Plans and Reports at the website’s Municipalities page. The City uses these funds in part to implement its Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program.

Additional Information and Resources:

https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/stormwater/municipal.html

MS4 Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit Public Outreach Mission (PDF)

coastalcleanupday.org

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact Public Works Engineering at 818-548-3945.