Did you Know?
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL): A TMDL is the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can accept and still meet the water quality objectives designed to protect its uses.
The Santa Monica Bay currently has a TMDL for bacteria. The bacterial TMDL is a way to improve water quality within Santa Monica Bay and at the beaches.
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Stormwater from Residential Areas
Residential areas contribute to stormwater pollution because roofs, driveways, streets, sidewalks, and other impervious surfaces do not allow runoff to infiltrate into the ground. Since the runoff cannot infiltrate into the ground, it enters the storm sewer system and eventually reaches the ocean carrying with it all the pollutants it gained on the way.
Where does stormwater runoff go?Stormwater runoff is captured via catch basins and other methods and is transported through various tunnels, pipes, and canals eventually discharging into creeks, rivers, streams, or the ocean without treatment.
The storm drain system is different than the sanitary sewer system which transports waste water from toilets, sinks, and showers. This water receives treatment before being discharged into a water body.
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