|
 he environmental community today applauded San Diego
County Supervisor Pam Slater for her support of numeric sizing
criteria to reduce water quality problems associated with polluted
urban runoff. Supervisor Slater has issued a Board Letter, to
be voted on October 11, 2000 by the Board of Supervisors, resolving
that, "The Board of Supervisors on behalf of the citizens
of the County of San Diego, support the concept of numeric sizing
criteria for significant new and redevelopment projects."
 "Water
pollution is an acute concern in San Diego County where the region's
populated areas discharge pollutants into San Diego Bay, Mission
Bay, Los Peñasquitos Lagoon, San Elijo Lagoon, San Dieguito
Lagoon, Buena Vista Lagoon and the Pacific Ocean," Slater
said. "The health and safety of the public and our marine
life alike is threatened."
"Pam
Slater continues to be a leader on clean water issues,"
said Donna Frye, foun-der of S.T.O.P. "She was responsible
for getting warning signs posted on the beach to alert beach-goers
to the health risks associated with polluted runoff, helped us
establish the Ocean Illness Survey and implemented and secured
funding for the DNA study to determine the sources of bacteria
from polluted runoff."
Polluted
runoff is one of the leading causes of beach closures in San
Diego. According to a report issued March 8, 2000 by the San
Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, "The major water
quality impacts from urbanization and new development are increased
pollutant load and increased flow. Both are the direct result
of converting pervious surfaces to impervious surfaces."
During the
urbanization process, natural pervious ground cover (soil and
vegetation which effectively absorb runoff and remove pollutants)
is converted to impervious surfaces (such as concrete storm drains,
asphalt freeways, parking lots and rooftops) which dominate urbanized
areas and can neither absorb runoff nor remove pollutants from
runoff.
Numeric sizing
criteria would ensure that the best management practices (BMPs)
for specific pollutants would be effective and ensure that the
adverse water quality impacts of development are addressed as
early in the project planning stages as possible. The adoption
of numeric sizing criteria also will help reduce pollutants and
flow from new development and redevelopment and help achieve
maximum pollution reduction for every dollar invested. Numeric
sizing criteria are critical to ensure that the right size and
right type of BMP is included in significant projects in the
future.
The inclusion
of numeric sizing criteria in the upcoming Municipal Stormwater
Permit for San Diego also is supported by the Environmental Health
Coalition, San Diego BayKeeper, Center for Marine Conservation,
the San Diego Audubon Society, San Diego County Surfrider Foundation,
San Diego County Chapter of the Sierra Club, and Surfers Tired
of Pollution.
"Pollution
is an environmental, as well as an economic issue," Slater
said. "Clean water is important to public health and the
survival of marine life, but with the popularity of our beaches
and waterways, tourism is greatly affected by beach closures."
|
