Despite
dispute by the San Diego Building Industry
Association and large oil corporations, San
Diego is working forward to enact ordinances
requiring new developments and major
redevelopments to reduce runoff pollution from
individual properties.
A total of 49
storm drains have been installed within the City
of San Diego, namely Pacific Beach, Mission Bay,
and La Jolla. These drains siphon off
contaminated urban runoff, our pollution’s
biggest problem, that is formed from excess
irrigation, toxic contaminants and even leaky
water pipes.
The
U.S. and Mexico have constructed the South Bay
International Wastewater Treatment Plant in San
Diego to help control untreated wastewater
coming from Tijuana into the U.S. This
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
re-evaluates long term treatment options for the
international plant by assessing potential
environmental consequences associated with the
construction and implementation of these various
options,
establishing a deadline for the
International Boundary and Water Commission,
United States Section to select, and initiate
implementation of, a strategy to provide
secondary treatment for wastewater from the
International Wastewater Treatment Plant (IWTP),
San Diego County." the IBWC to complete
secondary level sewage treatment facilities for
the IWTP by 2007
Actions are in the works to re-route Tijuana
water to the South Bay International Wastewater
Treatment Plant to prevent vast over-pollution
of the bay through un-treated water coming from
south of the border.
A larger issue
that gets much dispute is the Clean Water
Enforcement and Pollution Prevention Act. These
terms would enforce much higher standards in
waste disposal, contributing more time and money
on the part of big businesses who spend time and
money lobbying against such bills.
Other Actions
Include;
The Think Blue
Campaign – Allotting $500,000 a year for public
education programs to curb storm drain
pollution. Enforced by the state, this program
aims to decrease runoff pollutants dramatically
over the next five years.
The San Diego
Municipal Code enacted Division 3 in September
of 1993 to respond to rising concern of the
health and safety of the residents of the City
of San Diego. This division enforces storm water
management and discharge control to reduce
pollutants in urban storm water. (Water Quality
Controls)
The California
Ocean Plan – Quality control plan for ocean
waters of California, adopted by the State Water
Resources Control Board in 1991.
California
Enclosed Bays and Estuaries Plan: Water quality
control plan for the bays and estuaries of
California. Adopted by the Sate Water Resources
Control Board in 1991
Storm Water
Pollution Prevention plan; educating employees
on methods of reducing discharge of pollutants
to the storm water Conveyance System
