Before the First Storm Hits: Three Simple Ways to Keep Our Waterways Clean

By Jeff Burdick, Caltrans

At Caltrans, we work year-round to keep California’s highways clean, but less known is we also work hard to keep state waterways clean. That’s because the less pollution on our highways and local roads, the less pollution that can flush directly into our local rivers, lakes and ocean come the first storms of the season.

This is because the first major storms can act like a giant pressure washer, flushing months of accumulated litter, motor oil, toxic heavy metals (like brake dust), and yard waste off streets and highways. Because most stormwater systems do not flow to water treatment plants, this means toxic runoff flows completely untreated into local waterways and the ocean—where it poses health risks to swimmers, river and coastal communities, and marine life.

As this year is an El Niño year, even more man-made pollution will get swept directly off our highways and local roads into local waters. The good news is that everyone can help reduce stormwater pollution by taking the following simple actions before the rain begins.

On our highways – Keep a small trash bag in your car for collecting daily waste or when on longer road trips. Then dispose properly at a rest area or at your destination. Also, if you have a breakdown, make sure to not leave behind any motor oil bottles, tire parts, and packaging that can wash into local storm drains.

In your community – Never litter. Less trash left on streets and sidewalks, means less that can easily wash down residential gutters and sewers, and less discharged into rivers and coastal waters.

With your car – Proper vehicle maintenance means reducing your chances of a breakdown, but by keeping tires properly inflated and regularly checking for oil leaks, you reduce the amount of toxic fluids, heavy metals and toxic brake dust that rains can wash into storm drains.

Protecting California’s water starts with small actions we can all take. By preparing before the first storm, we can help keep our streets, neighborhoods and waterways clean throughout the rainy season.

For more stormwater pollution prevention tips, visit CleanWaterCA.com.