Redondo Beach
City of Redondo Beach
Stormwater Program Highlights
Residents of Redondo Beach are strongly supportive of protecting beaches and the ocean and the City commits significant resources to improve and protect the water quality of our beaches. The City of Redondo Beach implements a storm water pollution prevention program to protect water quality in Santa Monica Bay.
Details of our program can be found on our City’s web page.
Some highlights of the City’s activities are listed below.
Rain Water Harvesting
Rain Water Harvesting is an important means of helping meet the water needs of Southern California. By September 2010 the City will operate a facility that will capture rain for use in irrigating Alta Vista Park. The facility can divert and capture up to six million gallons of rain water a year for irrigation use or infiltration into the underground soils. Diversions from the storm drain system will reduce the amount of rain water, along with the bacteria and other pollutants it carries, from being discharged into the Santa Monica Bay – thus improving water quality and reducing the number of days bacteria concentrations in the water exceed healthful standards.
Fats, Oils, and Grease
Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) accumulation in the City’s sewer system is a major cause of wastewater overflows. These overflows can have a significant impact on water quality in the Santa Monica Bay. The City has implemented an aggressive FOG control and inspection program for businesses known to have the potential to discharge significant amounts of FOG into the sewer system. These facilities are inspected twice a year to ensure the FOG removal systems are being properly maintained.
Construction
Construction Standards adopted by the City require all new construction within the Coastal Zone (west of Pacific Coast Hwy and south of Torrance Blvd.) to implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) that will reduce the potential of pollutants being released into the Santa Monica Bay, and install structural facilities that reduce runoff from properties and/or remove pollutants from the runoff that is released. BMPs and structural facilities include: signage warning people of the prohibition on dumping waste into catch basins; covered trash bin and enclosures; training of employees on the importance of water quality; infiltration systems that divert rainfall into the ground; and catch basin inserts that remove trash and other pollutants.
Low Flow Diversions
Low Flow Diversion Systems that remove urban runoff (dry weather flow) caused by irrigation overspray, car washing, and other types of non-rainfall water discharges from the storm drain system have been installed. The diverted flows are directed into the sewer system where the Sanitation District treats the water to remove pollutants before the flow is discharged into the ocean or is infiltrated into the ground where pollutants are removed by natural processes in the soil.
Clean Bay Restaurant Program
Clean Bay Restaurant Certification is a multi-agency program that the City participates in with objectives to: 1) help educate restaurants on BMPs that reduce impact on the Bay’s water quality; 2) reward restaurants and other food service establishments that go above and beyond City regulations; and 3) inform the public about restaurants meeting these higher standards. All effected establishments are inspected twice a year with a check list of BMPs they should be implementing. Only establishments that score 100% are certified as a “Clean Bay Restaurant” and receive a certificate that they display in their establishment. The Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission partners with the City and other agencies to standardize and promote the program. You can find certified restaurants in Redondo Beach through this link.
Gross Pollutant Separators
Gross Pollutant Separators are facilities that intercept a portion of the rainwater runoff collected by the City’s storm drain system, and remove trash and sediments before the water is discharged into the Santa Monica Bay. The City has these facilities installed on the majority of the storm drains that discharge into the Santa Monica Bay.
Water Quality Task Force
A Water Quality Task Force was instituted by the City Council in 2005, with the objective of developing a Water Quality Recommendations Report identifying BMPs that, once implemented, would reduce pollutants being discharged into King Harbor and the Santa Monica Bay. The report presented to the City Council in June, 2006 identified 45 short- and long- term actions that the City could take to improve water quality. The City implemented many of the actions including: the installation of debris catchers in many catch basins in the harbor area parking lots; rerouting of gutter down-spouts from buildings on the pier into a treatment system; installation of pet waste doggie poles in public areas; establishment of a water quality hot line; and removal of exemptions from “no parking” regulations during street sweeping. Ongoing progress reports are provided to the City Council monthly.
Sanitary Sewers
Sanitary sewer overflows can significantly affect the water quality of the ocean. If allowed to enter the storm drain system high concentrations of bacteria can discharge into the water. The City has installed “smart covers” in 22 sanitary sewer manholes at critical locations throughout the City. These covers prove an early warning to City Staff when there is something wrong in the system. If the water in the manhole rises above normal conditions the staff is notified. This provides extra time for a response before the wastewater overflows onto the street and into the storm drain system.
City Events and Publications
• The City participates in the Earth Day event organized by SEALab. This event is aimed to educate the general public mainly the kids. The City provides a booth with the Enviroscape model to demonstrate and to show the urban runoff entering the ocean and to show the public behavior impact on reducing the pollution.
• City’s Quarterly Newsletter publishes a regular storm water related ad, which provides the community with the phone number to contact for questions.
• Educational Materials such as handouts, brochures, and complimentary calendars are provided at the Public Counters for the general Public or Contractors. The City has also coordinated with the County and other agencies such as Caltrans to distribute their collateral items. The Environmental Defender’s program has conducted school assemblies in Redondo Beach.
Regular maintenance activities which improve stormwater quality:
i. Street Sweeping
ii. Catch Basin Cleaning
iii. Illegal Discharge investigations
To report illegal discharges/dumping call the Water Quality Hotline: (310) 318-0649 or 888-CLEANLA
