Marinas

Stormwater Related Information for Marinas

Preventing runoff from marina operations from entering our streets and storm drains helps protect our waterways from pollution!  All sources of pollution, including runoff from marina operations, are prohibited from leaving your property and entering streets or storm drains. Only rainwater is allowed in the streets and storm drains.

Did you know…

  • Boat maintenance generates pollutants such as heavy metals, oil, fuel, grease and paint. Boat maintenance is often done close to water bodies and that means these pollutants can easily end up in our waterways where they degrade our water quality and harm aquatic life. 

  • Metals such as chromium cadmium, lead and zinc have the potential to contaminate drinking water supplies. These metals can also accumulate in aquatic life, where it can not only harm aquatic life  but also those who consume them.

  • Releasing pollutants directly or indirectly into the storm drain system is a violation of the County’s Watershed Protection Ordinance (WPO). 

 

What can I do?

  • Dispose of waste thoughtfully: Make sure the waste water from your maintenance drains to the sewer system. Cover or protect any storm drains prior to starting work. 
  • Use Best Management Practices (BMPs) for your business: BMPs are techniques or control used to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants, such as wash water, into the storm drain system.  BMPs for a marina include ensuring that all pressure washing, full refinishing, or major repairs be done at a permitted boatyard and capturing all dust from sanding and grinding activities. 

 

Want to learn more?

The resources below provide suggested BMPs and further information on how to protect our waterways. Click the buttons to view available languages:  

General Pollution
Inspect Your Business
Materials Management Spill Response
Train Your Employees
Loading and Dumpster Areas
Building_Pavement_Wash

 

Know before you go…

Pre-clean any oily parts of your boat with rags to prevent pollutant runoff.

 

Contact Us

If you would like to report a marina discharge concern, have questions about our program, or would like additional information call the County Storm Drain Pollution hotline at: 1(888) 846-0800 or e-mail us at watersheds@sdcounty.ca.gov 

 

Thank you for doing your part to protect our waterways!

 

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