Recreational Facilities
Preventing runoff from recreational areas from entering our streets and storm drains helps protect our waterways from pollution! All sources of pollution, including runoff from recreational areas, 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…
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Parks and recreational areas such as golf courses may use fertilizers, pesticides, and generate organic waste material. These pollutants can be washed into our waterways as a result of over irrigation or rain events where they degrade our water quality and harm aquatic life.
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Soil and dirt washed from the grounds can also harm aquatic life by reducing oxygen levels, blocking light, inhibiting photosynthesis, causing flooding, and promoting algae blooms.
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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: Regular maintenance to remove green waste and litter from the area will keep it out of our storm drain and waterways. Dispose of waste in covered waste bins or alternatively, drop-off yard trimmings to facilities that will compost them into a beneficial compost or mulch. These facilities are often much less expensive than taking the materials to a landfill. To locate a facility near you, visit https://wastefreesd.org/.
- Use Best Management Practices (BMPs): BMPs are techniques or controls used to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants, such as organic waste or chemicals, into the storm drain system. BMPs for a recreational facility include not applying fertilizers or pesticides prior to a rain event, prevent irrigation runoff by watering in short cycles and regularly checking sprinkler alignment or scheduling work that requires excavation or earth moving outside of the rainy season.
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:
Know before you go…
Chose non-toxic, biodegradable pesticide and fertilizers whenever possible. To learn more about these practices, visit the University of California's Integrated Pest Management Program.
If you would like to report a discharge concern regarding a recreational facility, 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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