Stormwater Committee
ABOUT THE STORMWATER COMMITTEE
The Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program (Storm Water Program) is the lead office for the City’s efforts to reduce pollutants in urban runoff and storm water to the maximum extent practicable. These activities, include but are not limited to, public education, employee training, water quality monitoring, source identification, code enforcement, watershed management, and Best Management Practices development/implementation within the San Bernardino & Riverside Counties Branch jurisdictional boundaries. The Storm Water Program represents the City’s on storm water and NPDES storm water permit issues before the Principal Permittee, the County Department of Environmental Health, and the Regional Water Quality Control Board. In addition, the Storm Water Program provides technical expertise and guidance to all City departments to ensure implementation and compliance with the Permit. Furthermore, the Storm Water Program prepares and transmits an annual report to the County for submittal to the Regional Board and is responsible agent that certifies that the City is in compliance with all Permit requirements. Compliance with the Permit requirements will be tracked and monitoring by the Storm Water Program and the Regional Board through the annual reporting process, self-assessments, certifications, Storm Water Program audits and inspections, and Regional Board audits and inspections.
Welcome to the Stormwater Committee webpage. The Stormwater Committee was formed to add value to ASCE membership and to address stormwater issues we all encounter every day. The Committee provides a forum for networking in an atmosphere that includes dinners, workshops, calendar of events, and seminars. These activities are in addition to those already offered by the ASCE San Bernardino & Riverside Counties Branch. The public is welcomed to attend and participate in the Committee as a volunteer. Also included is access to our committee members, and additional links of helpful information. For anyone who would like to get involved and volunteer for a committee or one of our public outreach events, please contact any of the current committee members for assistance. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding our site please contact Bill Flores. We hope to see everyone at our upcoming events.Thank you for your continued support and commitment to ASCE and to the Stormwater Committee.
Sincerely,
Bill Flores Jr., P.E., CPESC, CPSWQ, QSD/P, ToR
Stormwater Committee, Chairman
Stormwater Elements
Compost Yard Trimmings
Dispose of yard clippings and waste in a compost bin or other green containers. Your bin can be cubed, approximately 3′ x 3′ x 3′, or a 5′ diameter hoop of hardware wire. You can layer the materials in the bin by alternating 3-4″ layer of grass clippings, manure, or kitchen scraps and 3-4″ layer of leaves, sawdust, and wood chips. Or you may mix them up and place them in layers in the bin. Water the compost as you build the bin. Contact your local Recycling Authority for further details.
Dispose of Trash Property
Much of what we throw away as trash is considered recyclable! It is estimated that of the 4 tons of trash that washes up on beaches–over 80% of it could have been recycled! Separate items thoughtfully and discard only what is non-recyclable. Recycle paper, plastics, and glass through your local Curbside Recycling Program. Keep a trash bag in the car and use it! Do not throw anything out the window. Keep up car maintenance to reduce leakage of oil, anti-freeze and other fluids. Contact the State of California Department of Conservation Recycling Hotline 1-800-RECYCLE to receive information on what and where to recycle according to your zip code.
Don't Let the Hose Run
Did you know that residents use up to 90 % of their drinking water to irrigate
lawns and landscaping during the summer months. Over watering our lawns wastes water and can transport pollutants like pet waste, fertilizers, and pesticides into the streets and eventually into the stormwater system. Help protect stormwater by following these simple lawn and household water guidelines:
- When washing your car, use biodegradable soap with as little water as possible.
- Shut off the hose while washing your car and then rinse.
- Some lawns require more or less water, depending upon the type of grass you have.
- Adding or removing one minute from the watering time will change the amount of water you use by 25 %.
- Don’t water when it’s windy or rainy.
- Schedule start times at least one hour apart. Use the cycle & soak method of watering.
- If your timer has a “skip day” mode, it is suggested to water lawns 4 to 5 days apart in the winter and 2 to 3 days apart in the spring and fall. Please check with your locate city guidelines.
Pick-up After Your Pets
One of the biggest contributors to urban runoff pollution is through every day activities through the improper disposal of pet waste. Often times when people walk their pets, they do not clean up their pet’s waste.
This can be a problem for a few reasons: Pet waste carries with it numerous bacteria such as the potentially harmful E-coli bacteria. This bacteria, through fecal matter, often makes its way into the storm drain, which ultimately makes its way into lakes and streams.
Here are some easy solutions:
- Take a plastic bag with you to the park – when your loved one is “done”, put the waste into the plastic bag and dispose of it in a trash receptacle.
- Pick up a “pooper scooper” from your local pet supply store.
- Regularly pick up pet waste in your yard to prevent waste from making its way to the gutter and storm drains
The Solution to Pollution is in Everyone’s Hands!! What is Stormwater Pollution? Most of our rainwater travels through gutters, storm drains, channels, washes and eventually into the major source of our drinking water. The most common pollutants are: These pollutants are carried through water (from rain, hoses, sprinklers, etc.) drains from streets, parking lots, and lawns and enters through catch basins throughout California. From there the polluted urban runoffs and rainwater flows through a massive system of pipes and open channels straight to various washes and reservoirs untreated. Basically, anything dumped or dropped on the ground or in the gutter contributes to stormwater pollution. What Are the Effects of Stormwater Pollution? Health: Stormwater pollution can pose a serious health risk to people due to pesticides, bacteria, and chemicals that is washed from our city streets and into the stormwater. Environment: Numerous marine plants and animals living in our Lakes and Streams may become sick or die from contact with stormwater pollution. Neighborhoods: Clogged catch basins significantly decrease the quality of life in many neighborhoods throughout the City and County. These “layers” of trash and debris can attract rats and pesticides, create foul odors, and clog the storm drain system affecting neighborhood appearences and property values, and may cause flooding due to un-proper runoff.
ASCE-LA Section:
Mr. Neil Nilchian worked for the County of Riverside for about 25 years. He first began his county employment with the Department of Building and Safety where he was in charge of a Satellite Office-Grading Section. At the Grading Section, he promoted erosion prevention and effective storm run-off management long before the industry came up with “Best Management Practices”. Later on, he joined the Riverside County Transportation Department and worked his way up to an Engineering Project Manager for different Capital Improvement Projects. He received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the California State University, Los Angeles. He has been an active member of ASCE for over 35 years.