The city has developed and is implementing a multifaceted watershed management program to address the Pacific Ocean impairment for bacteria and beach postings that will result in immediate and long-term ocean water quality improvement. The program strategy includes utilizing urban runoff pollution control strategies in conjunction with infrastructure improvements, public education activities and source reduction efforts conducted through implementation of the city urban runoff MS4 permit. A key pollution control strategy element is storm drain urban runoff diversion to the sewer system during the dry weather (Apr-Oct) months and storm drain urban runoff gross pollutant removal during the wet weather (Nov-Mar) months. The City completed an “Urban Runoff Diversion Program Study Report” in April of 2001 which studied and prioritized fifty-three (53) significant storm drains in the City for diversion. Currently there are eighteen diversion units installed in high priority storm drains throughout the City.
The “Coastal Storm Drain Pollution Control Project,” completed in late 2006, included construction of five (5) Phase 2 diversion units in high priority storm drain outlets. The locations were determined to provide the highest potential to protect the public health and the coastal environment. Specifically, the Cliff Drive and Cliff Drive / Heisler Park S. end outlets drain to a popular beach area and the Heisler Park Ecological Reserve and Area of Special Biological Significance. The Cress Street outlet drains to a popular surfing and swimming location.
The main goal of the project is to provide immediate ocean water quality improvement by controlling urban runoff and diverting bacteria and pollutants to the sewer system during the dry weather. The runoff would otherwise go into the Pacific Ocean and may cause elevated bacteria counts and subsequent beach postings/closings. A secondary goal is to remove gross pollutants and oil & grease during the wet weather months before discharge to the ocean.
The project provides the following benefits:

• Removes pollutants from the storm drain system that may cause elevated bacteria counts in the Pacific Ocean.
• Provides a level of treatment throughout the year to remove bacteria and gross pollutants from urban runoff.
• Allows urban runoff to be treated at the SOCWA wastewater treatment plant and reused as recycled water, thus reducing the demand for potable water resources.
• The units may intercept sewage spills that can occur from manholes and private laterals during the summer months and divert them into the sewer system.

Technology upgrades for year-round pollution control have been incorporated into the proposed Phase 3 units. They include swirl separators manufactured by Continuous Deflection Separation (CDS) Technologies Inc. for removing gross pollutants and oil & grease. During the dry weather months these units discharge to the sewer system. During the wet weather months, up to the CDS design capacity of 3 cubic-feet per second, the units discharge stormwater back to the storm drain and to the ocean minus gross solids.