Definitions of San Diego water quality

La Jolla ocean quality

Keeping our oceans clean:

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These are my two boys
and the reason I'm so
passionate about water quality ...

The problems facing San Diego and
California bay and ocean water quality

Runoff - The excess water that carries pollutants, usually by concrete or cement, directly into storm drains which carry water out to sea:

	Urban runoff is the number one cause of ocean contamination that our city and our state are facing
	Since 1976, the number of impaired water bodies not meeting federal standards in the San Diego region has more than doubled with each subsequent release of the triennial Clean Water Act (CWA) §303(d) list.-sd baykeeper
	In 1986, state scientists deemed 14% of California bays unsafe for swimming and fishing. In 1996, 93% were classified unsafe.
	In 1970, 37% of California's rivers and streams were considered unsafe. By 1996, 74% were classified unsafe.
	A new disease discovered as a result of runoff contamination has been killing seals on California’s central coast
	Cigarette butts, populating storm drains, can take decades to break down due to their plastic content. This breakdown occurs in our ocean water.
	The oil extracted from just one oil change can pollute a million gallons of water-more than 120 people can drink in a lifetime!
	PCB Contamination, blamed for the death of many seals, was found in a 1997 study to contaminate San Diego Bay at the seventh highest rate in the country.
	Dumping one quart of motor oil down a storm drain contaminates 250,000 gallons of water.
	Three and a quarter million tons of oil enter the ocean of the world each year.
	With every rainstorm, pollution from San Diego County's nearly 3 million residents drains to the ocean, fouling vast stretches of its 76 miles of coastline.
	Urban runoff contains bacteria, viruses and other pathogens, which studies have shown can sicken swimmers and surfers.
	Sewage spills annually account for only 7 to 10 percent of beaches postings and closures. Bacteria-laden urban runoff triggered 70 percent of last year's 189 beach contamination postings countywide.
	About 65,000 chemicals are used commercially in the U.S. today, with about 1,000 new ones added each year. Only about 300 have been tested thoroughly for toxicity.
	Industries that depend on clean water, such as tourism and fishing, contribute to $17 billion to the economy each year in California
	Heavy rains in the recent October rainstorms caused a 3,000-gallon sewage spill, forcing South Carlsbad State Beach to close. Because sewage spills flow through storm drains, into waterways, they eventually end up in the ocean and along state beaches.

Runoff is Ugly

- it’s the excess water that carries pollutants directly into storm drains which carry water out to sea. Runoff can contain such pollutants as motor oil, gasoline, soap from car washes, trash, cigarette butts, leaves and plants. Runoff also contains copper & zinc from car brake linings, pesticides, & fertilizers.

Urban runoff is the number one cause of ocean contamination that our city and our state are facing

Since 1976, the number of impaired water bodies not meeting federal standards in the San Diego region has more than doubled with each subsequent release of the triennial Clean Water Act (CWA) §303(d) list.-sd baykeeper

In 1986, state scientists deemed 14% of California bays unsafe for swimming and fishing. In 1996, 93% were classified unsafe.

In 1970, 37% of California's rivers and streams were considered unsafe. By 1996, 74% were classified unsafe.

A new disease discovered as a result of runoff contamination has been killing seals on California’s central coast

Cigarette butts, populating storm drains, can take decades to break down due to their plastic content. This breakdown occurs in our ocean water.

The oil extracted from just one oil change can pollute a million gallons of water-more than 120 people can drink in a lifetime!

PCB Contamination, blamed for the death of many seals, was found in a 1997 study to contaminate San Diego Bay at the seventh highest rate in the country.

Dumping one quart of motor oil down a storm drain contaminates 250,000 gallons of water.

Three and a quarter million tons of oil enter the ocean of the world each year.

With every rainstorm, pollution from San Diego County's nearly 3 million residents drains to the ocean, fouling vast stretches of its 76 miles of coastline.

Urban runoff contains bacteria, viruses and other pathogens, which studies have shown can sicken swimmers and surfers.

Sewage spills annually account for only 7 to 10 percent of beaches postings and closures. Bacteria-laden urban runoff triggered 70 percent of last year's 189 beach contamination postings countywide.

About 65,000 chemicals are used commercially in the U.S. today, with about 1,000 new ones added each year. Only about 300 have been tested thoroughly for toxicity.

Industries that depend on clean water, such as tourism and fishing, contribute to $17 billion to the economy each year in California

Heavy rains in the recent October rainstorms caused a 3,000-gallon sewage spill, forcing South Carlsbad State Beach to close. Because sewage spills flow through storm drains, into waterways, they eventually end up in the ocean and along state beaches.