Stormwater
Storm drains flow directly to the ocean, rivers, and lakes without any treatment. Thus, it is important that no one be allowed to dump waste of any kind onto street surfaces, drainage pipes, and ditches, or storm drains. Storm drains are only for rainwater.
If you see someone dumping anything onto street surfaces, into storm drains, or into any other device built to contain rainfall or runoff on campus, please report it immediately by calling the Environment, Health and Safety at 619-594-6778 or (after hours) Public Safety 619-594-1991 with the time, location, and description of the activity.
SDSU currently has a stormwater permit which describes what measures SDSU must take to minimize stormwater pollution. The Phase II Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Program is part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) regulations under the Clean Water Act (CWA) designed to address stormwater runoff from small urban and suburban areas. It is part of a broader effort to reduce the pollution of surface waters caused by stormwater discharges.
SDSU is required to develop and implement a Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) that outlines our strategies for managing stormwater runoff. The SWMP must include a series of Best Management Practices (BMPs) that address various elements of stormwater quality. Additionally, the SWMP focuses on elements such as public education and outreach, illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction site stormwater runoff, pollution prevention/ good housekeeping, and more. SDSU’s ultimate goal is to reduce pollutants in stormwater runoff and improve water quality in rivers, lakes, and other water bodies.
We do our best to control stormwater pollution by using different techniques and strategies. Below are some examples of actions we have taken to minimize stormwater pollution:
- Watching for and correcting “illicit” discharges
- Rapid spill response
- Affixing “NO DUMPING, DRAINS TO OCEAN” stickers on storm drains
- Routine cleaning of catch basins and storm drain pipes
- Annual training of Facilities personnel
- Annual Reporting to State Regulators
- Quarterly Hotspot Inspections
- Outreach and posting posters
Below are a few ideas that you could do to help clean up our water bodies around SDSU:
- Clean up pet waste and dispose of it properly
- If your vehicle is leaking fluids, repair them as soon as possible.
- Dispose of hazardous chemicals and automotive fluids appropriately. Do NOT dump these chemicals down any drains or dispose of them in the garbage.
- Wash your car on the lawn or at a commercial car wash that treats the water before it enters the stormwater system.
- If washing at home, avoid washing your car on driveways where runoff can easily flow into storm drains.
- Dispose of litter properly, especially in areas near storm drains. Trash such as plastic bottles, cigarette butts, and wrappers can wash into storm drains and eventually into rivers and oceans, causing pollution.
If you notice someone illegally discharging waste around SDSU, please report them to Environment, Health and Safety at 619-594-6778 or (after hours) Public Safety at 619-594-1991 with the time, location, and description of the activity.
