Written by Katie Xing
Ever notice the blue jumping dolphin by a storm drain that states “No Dumping. Drains to the Ocean”? Ocean pollution is particularly a recurring theme of environmental science, but the main issue is that it has also become a public health concern. The health of our oceans and inner city communities are at risk if the problem remains unaddressed. Storm drains not only lead the path for pollution to flow straight into the ocean; when clogged in urban areas, they can also lead to contamination by stormwater and flooding, which can spread waterborne diseases such as cholera.
The main reason for the development of the storm drains was to control the flooding problems that would arise during a rainstorm. They prevent streets from flooding and allow easier control on the flow of stormwater. What the storm drains were not prepared for was the amount of pollution it would carry along with the stormwater. Stormwater flowing through these storm drains are then left untreated and unfiltered, which goes straight into our coastal ocean waters. This type of pollution is contributed by the inner city communities, and is termed as urban runoff by environmental scientists.
According to the California Environmental Protection Agency, within the Los Angeles County alone residents contribute to stormwater pollution 800,000 times by allowing trash to roam freely on the streets or not disposing of their trash correctly [1]. The architecture of the storm drain consists of a catch basin that collects the trash that flows into the drain. The catch basin, however, is only cleaned only two to three times a year, depending on the wet seasons, and can lead to unsanitary conditions. The odor, pests, bacteria and viruses can dangerously build up if not addressed properly. This is a form of non-point source pollution, as these pollution conditions result from a variety of sources that are then introduced into a large, often populated area. Clogged catch basins lead to improper drainage of water, which then attribute to the flooding on the streets and put individuals at risk of being exposed to pollution. Although there are current sanitation efforts to remove the debris from the catch basins, the amount of pollution urban residents contribute to only causes the problem to repeat itself and continue to put the public at risk.
The water quality that flows through the storm drain is increasingly declining and can be hazardous. This creates a larger problem because waterborne illnesses result from exposure to the contaminated stormwater. According to a study by Haile RW at the USC Department of Preventative Medicine, there is a high correlation between polluted stormwater runoff and adverse health effects [2]. The risks are even higher for individuals who are in beach waters right after a storm. Both inner cities and coastal communities are affected by these events.
Collective action by inner communities can be one of the most effective solutions to tackling stormwater pollution. Ocean pollution can be prevented. Improving public health concerns surrounding the safety of our exposure to clogged storm drains can also in turn improve the health of our ocean waters. Creating awareness to our communities is the first step to change.
References:
1. California Environmental Protection Agency State Water Resource Control Board. 2009, Storm Water Pollution.
2. R. W. Haile, J. S. Witte, M. Gold, R. Cressey, C. McGee, R. C. Millikan, A. Glasser, N. Harawa, C. Ervin, P. Harmon, et al.1999, The health effects of swimming in ocean water contaminated by storm drain runoff. Epidemiology 10(4): 355–363.