What to Do - Tools that San Diegans can use to mangage Urban Runoff

San Diego County's 11 Watersheds

What to Do - Home and Property owners

A Watershed is an area of land that drains to a single waterway.  In San Diego, every one of our 11 watersheds drains to the ocean.

Making sure the water draining from our homes and urban centers has many chances to soak into landscape along the way means when the water gets to our lakes, rivers, and the ocean it will be cleaner, having been filtered by the soil rather than carrying surface pollutants off our roofs, streets, lawns, etc.   Once in the soil the water can provide numerous ecological services including hydrating plant life, preventing erosion, allowing for healthy microbiology of the soil, and replenishing aquifers.  The quicker water gets into the soil, the slower it moves through the environment, which means it has a greater opportunity to service the human, plant, and animal community long after rain events.  This also means we have less surface flow during major events reducing flooding and pollution everywhere!

The Carlsbad Desalination plant took 14 years to build, cost over $600 million, and supplies only 8% of San Diego’s Water Supply.  If everyone in San Diego reduced their outdoor irrigation by only 50% by using rainwater resources, greywater resources, and plant according to your onsite water budget), we would need 25% less water supply.  

Our local governments could give out more incentives  to homeowners to achieve conservation methods instead of focus on expensive infrastructure investments that puts money in the hands of developers.  With up to $400 available for rainwater catchment in the City of San Diego and up to $350 available from Metropolitan Water District, and $250 available for simple laundry greywater systems in the City of San Diego, we are off to a good start.  

What to Do - Tools that San Diego Can Use

Managing urban runoff in California, a state prone to droughts and water scarcity, is a critical environmental and water resource challenge. To address this issue, various strategies are employed, including taxes, incentives, building codes, and zoning regulations. Here's how each of these tools can be used effectively:

1. Taxes:

   • Stormwater Utility Fees: Many California municipalities have implemented stormwater utility fees. Property owners are charged based on the amount of impervious surface on their property, which directly contributes to urban runoff. These fees create a financial incentive for property owners to reduce runoff by installing permeable surfaces, rain gardens, or other stormwater management systems.

2. Incentives:

   • Rebates and Grants: Local governments and water agencies can offer financial incentives such as rebates and grants to property owners who implement runoff mitigation measures. This can include subsidies for installing rain barrels, green roofs, permeable pavements, or other sustainable landscaping features.

3. Building Codes:

   • Green Building Standards: California has been a leader in adopting green building standards. Building codes can mandate the use of environmentally friendly construction materials and techniques that reduce runoff. For example, requiring the installation of rainwater harvesting systems in new buildings can capture and reuse rainwater, reducing runoff.

4. Zoning Regulations:

   • Low-Impact Development (LID) Zoning: Implement zoning regulations that encourage Low-Impact Development (LID) principles. LID focuses on reducing the impact of urban development on water resources. Zoning can promote practices such as maintaining natural vegetation, limiting impervious surfaces, and designing buildings with rainwater management in mind.
   • Streamside Buffer Zones: Zoning can require buffer zones along streams and water bodies, limiting development in these sensitive areas to protect water quality and reduce runoff.

5. Education and Outreach:

   • Public Awareness Campaigns: Use taxes and incentives to fund public awareness campaigns about the importance of managing urban runoff. Educating the public about simple actions they can take, like not littering or properly disposing of hazardous materials, can reduce pollutant runoff.

6. Collaboration and Regional Planning:

   • Regional Stormwater Management: Encourage collaboration between municipalities in a region to develop comprehensive stormwater management plans. These plans can include regional detention basins, stormwater treatment facilities, and shared costs for runoff mitigation.

7. Monitoring and Enforcement:

   • Regulatory Oversight: Establish regulatory agencies responsible for enforcing runoff management measures, including building codes and zoning regulations. Regular monitoring and inspections can ensure compliance and effectiveness.

8. Research and Innovation:

   • Foster Research Initiatives: Invest in research to develop innovative technologies and strategies for managing urban runoff efficiently. This can include studying the effectiveness of green infrastructure, improved stormwater treatment systems, and advanced modeling techniques for runoff prediction. Track and emulate successful efforts of other areas with similar topography, development, and climate.
     

 By implementing a combination of these strategies, California can better manage urban runoff, reduce water pollution, enhance water supply resilience, and promote sustainable urban development in the face of ongoing water challenges, as well as avoiding imposition of onerous taxes and taking on debt to finance improvements in civic storm infrastructure.

What California Has Done

California is taking a comprehensive approach to managing urban runoff, using a variety of tools including taxes, incentives, building codes, and zoning regulations.

• Taxes: The state has implemented a stormwater fee on new development, which is used to fund stormwater management projects. The fee is based on the amount of impervious surface area created by the development.
  
• Incentives: The state also offers financial incentives to encourage property owners to implement stormwater management practices on their properties. These incentives can include SWGP grants, loans, and tax credits.
• Building codes: The state has adopted building codes that require new development to meet certain stormwater management standards. These standards may include requirements for rain gardens, green roofs, and other low-impact development practices.
• Zoning regulations: The state has also adopted an MS4 plan zoning regulations that can be used to manage urban runoff. These regulations can be used to restrict development in areas that are prone to flooding or to require developers to implement stormwater management practices.

In addition to these measures, the state is also working to educate the public about stormwater management and to encourage individuals to take steps to reduce their own impact on stormwater runoff.

Here are some specific examples of how these tools are being used to manage urban runoff in California:

• The city of San Francisco has implemented a stormwater fee of $0.25 per square foot of impervious surface area for new development. This fee has generated over $100 million, which has been used to fund stormwater management projects such as rain gardens, green roofs, and bioswales.
• The state of California offers a variety of financial incentives for property owners who implement stormwater management practices on their properties. These incentives include grants, loans, and tax credits. For example, the state offers a grant of up to $10,000 for homeowners who install a rain garden.
• The California Building Standards Code requires new development to meet certain stormwater management standards. These standards may include requirements for rain gardens, green roofs, and other low-impact development practices. For example, the code requires new commercial buildings to have a minimum of 10% of their roof area covered by a green roof.
• The city of Los Angeles has adopted zoning regulations that restrict development in areas that are prone to flooding. These regulations also require developers to implement stormwater management practices in areas that are not prone to flooding. For example, the city requires developers to install a stormwater detention basin for any new development that is located in a floodplain.

These are just a few examples of how California is using taxes, incentives, building codes, and zoning regulations to manage urban runoff. The state is committed to finding innovative ways to reduce the impact of stormwater runoff on water quality and the environment.

References:

1. Model Urban Runoff Program, California State Water Resources Control Board runoff management program without heavy-handed regulatory requirements.487 pages murp_revised.pdf
2. San Diego Approves Property Tax Incentive To Increase Urban Gardening - Smart Cities Connect
3. Chapter 16 - LOS ANGELES REGION SAFE, CLEAN WATER PROGRAM AND SPECIAL PARCEL TAX TO PROVIDE FOR STORMWATER AND URBAN RUNOFF CAPTURE AND REDUCED STORMWATER AND URBAN RUNOFF POLLUTION
4. Santa Clara County Stormwater Management Program - Department of Planning and Development plandev.sccgov.org
5. A Tale of Two Watersheds: Simple Backyard Solutions are the Key to Watershed Health
    https://catchingh2o.com/2018-4-4-a-tale-of-two-watersheds-simple-backyard-solutions-are-the-key-to-watershed-health/