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Blue Water Task Force: About The Blue Water Task Force
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The Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) is the Surfrider Foundation San Diego County Chapter's primary research and water quality
monitoring program. Surfrider has teamed up with San Diego Coastkeeper to implement a water monitoring effort to timely alert
surfers, beachgoers, and officials in their communities about health-threatening water quality problems and to work toward solutions.
The BWTF has demonstrated success by raising public awareness of coastal water pollution levels. The joint efforts have precipitated
the establishment of a very successful local government water quality monitoring system, which issues timely advisories to surfers and
beach goers alerting them to unsafe conditions at specific surf breaks.
The BWTF was established to:
- Provide members with the opportunity for hands-on involvement with an environmental problem solving effort;
- Gather coastal water samples on a regular basis following strict scientific protocols to determine pollution patterns in the near shore environment;
- Raise public awareness regarding the extent and severity of coastal water pollution;
- Bring polluters into compliance by use of credible data collected; and
- Develop a model program for other areas to track water quality and timely alert surfers and beach goers to dangerous water conditions.
Please email Keri with any questions or if you would like to volunteer.
2008 testing dates are:
- June 14 in Oceanside (North County)
- July 19 in Point Loma (Coastkeeper's offices)
- August 16 in Point Loma (Coastkeeper's offices)
- September 20 in Lake San Marcos (North County)
- October 18 (WWMD) - TBD
- November 15 in Point Loma (Coastkeeper's offices)
- December 13 at Lake San Marcos (North County)
Check out our calendar of events
for more information on each of those testing days.
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Clean Water Street Team - Report Storm Water Violations in Your Neighborhood
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Clean Water Street Team is designed to empower everyone throughout San Diego County to help make a difference with
protecting one of our most valuable natural resources, clean water. The main goal is to stop storm water violations.
The most common violations are when businesses wash down their sidewalk and/or parking lot and from construction.
Oil, grease, and many other pollutants are getting picked up by the discharge, entering storm drains, and are contributing
to the urban runoff problem that can close our coastal waters for recreational use. Also, there is the harmful effect on
the marine environment. Please note, per City, State, and Federal law, only storm water may be discharged off of commercial
property, and in no circumstances may any person or business discharge wastewater into San Diego’s storm drains.
Anyone can help out, no formal training is required. We do offer a few recommended guidelines and tips on
getting the most effective pictures:
- Be non-confrontational. Our goal is to document the problem, then have the proper authorities approach the violator.
- Look at the whole area before taking pictures, video or samples. Be sure that the runoff is going to storm drains. Some business wash down properly by having a diverter vacuum that collects the wastewater before entering a storm drain.
- Get up close, detailed pictures of the violation AND an overall picture that shows the storefront associated with the violation and/or the nearest cross streets when possible.
- Report the information to the local agency (see below) including: the type of problem, a description of it, the exact location, how the incident was discovered, when the incident began, were any resources directly at risk, the suspected source (Please include Name, Address, Phone Number, or any other information you have), any evidence do you have – pictures, video, sample. Many agencies ask for your contact info as well.
CLICK HERE for a list of contacts for local city storm
water/environmental services departments where you can submit the alleged violations.
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