Program Summary

Introduction to Storm Water and Urban Runoff Pollution
City's Stormwater and Urban Runoff Quality Management Program


Introduction to Storm Water and Urban Runoff Pollution
Before you pour anything into the gutter or down the drain, stop and think! Everything that enters the storm drain empties into channels, creeks, wetlands and/or bays before eventually reaching the ocean.

Products we use in our home, car and business such as motor oil, paint, pesticides, fertilizers, cleaners, and cigarette may wind up in the street. A little water from a storm or a garden hose can carry these materials through the storm drain, causing our bays, wetlands and the ocean to be polluted. Storm drains are designed to drain water off the street, not for disposal of hazardous materials or other refuse. The picture on the left captures what Ballona Creek Estuary looks like after a rain, littered with thousands of tons of trash and other pollutants that wash off from streets.

These pollutants flow from storm drains to flood control channels where they eventually empty into the ocean. This type of pollution is called Stormwater and Urban Runoff Pollution (SWURP) and is a serious threat to the health of our Southern California beaches and ocean.

Stormwater runoff refers to seasonal rainfall flows. It is very noticeable during a heavy rain storm when large volumes of water drain off paved areas. Urban runoff can occur anytime of the year when excessive water use from irrigation, car washing and other sources carries litter, lawn clippings and other pollutants into storm drains. Even an automobile leaking motor oil 20 miles inland can still pollute the ocean.

SWURP can include anything that washes into the storm drain from the community. Unlike water pollution linked to factories or sewage treatment plants, SWURP can come from city streets, neighborhoods, farms, construction sites and parking lots.

Stormwater and Urban Runoff Pollution Comes From: 

• Automotive leaks and spills.
• Dumping of used oil and other engine fluids down the storm drain.
• Metals in vehicle exhaust, paint, rust, metal plating and tires.
• Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers from lawns, gardens and farms.
• Improper disposal of cleaners, paint, and paint removers.
• Soil erosion and dust debris from landscape and construction activities.
• Litter, lawn clippings, animal waste and other organic matter.
• Oil stains on parking lots and paved surfaces.

City's Stormwater and Urban Runoff Quality Management Program
The City's Stormwater Management Program has been developed and launched as part of a Countywide effort to comply with the stormwater and urban runoff requirements specified in the Los Angeles County Storm Water National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit issued by the regulatory agency, Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board.  The Permit is also referred to as the MS4 Permit.  MS4 stands for municipal separate storm sewer system.

The objectives of the Stormwater and Urban Runoff Quality Management Program include:

• Effectively managing and coordinating the implementation of MS4 Permit requirements;
• Identifying and eliminating illicit connections and illicit discharges to the storm drain system;
• Reducing SWURP impacts associated with new construction and redevelopment projects;
• Increasing public knowledge about the impacts of SWURP and the actions they can take to prevent pollution.
• Increasing public knowledge and understanding of the quality, quantity, sources, and impacts of urban runoff; and
• Evaluating the effectiveness of implementing the stormwater management program.

The City of Culver City incorporates efforts to control storm water and urban runoff pollution in its various activities:

• Sanitation crews regularly sweep city streets to prevent trash from entering the storm drains.
• Street Maintenance crews clean out City-owned catchbasins at least once a year.
• The Transportation Department has measurably increased
• The number of trash receptacles at transit stops to deter littering.
• The Sanitation Division coordinates Ballona Creek Clean-Up Events and participates in Annual Earth Day Events to educate the public about the City's recycling program;
• The Engineering Services Division:
• Reviews and conditions plans for proposed development and redevelopment projects to ensure that pollutants resulting from both construction and post-construction phases will be appropriately controlled.
• Performs daily inspections to check on construction sites, businesses and residential areas for potential illegal discharges and other SWURP sources to control them, and to ensure all BMPs are properly implemented.
• Has installed a trash-capturing device, known as Continuous Deflective Separation (CDS) unit at the Overland outlet to the Ballona Creek to capture trash and sediment originating from various sources.

The Stormwater and Urban Runoff Quality Management Program, which is housed under the Engineering Services Division:

• Ensures compliance of the City and its facilities with the Los Angeles MS4 Permit and General Industrial Storm Water Permit;
• Researches, plans and implements BMPs throughout the City.
• Actively seeks funding opportunities, through grant applications, to help fund the implementation of innovative stormwater Best Management Practices. 
• Actively participates in Los Angeles County's Environmental Education Task Force to educate K-12, students, the general public, and businesses about pollution prevention programs;
• Collaborates with the Los Angeles County, other cities with the County, and other agencies on issues regarding SWURP and total maximum daily loads (TMDLs).