What is Urban Runoff/Storm Water

In order to clarify the terms used throughout this section, the following definitions are provided for your convenience:

• Urban runoff is considered water originating from urban areas, including, but not limited to, rain, irrigation, wash water, and air conditioning condensate.
• Storm Water refers solely to water resulting from a storm event. However, many agencies still use the term “storm water” to refer to urban runoff.

As our population and economy expands, Oceanside faces many challenges in protecting our waterbodies. As increasing amounts of impervious surfaces are constructed (e.g. sidewalks, streets, parking lots, buildings, homes, etc.), a greater number of storm drains are needed to carry rain water and urban runoff away from the City in order to prevent flooding. This water, however, is sent straight to the nearest waterbody without filtration. Therefore, all the pollutants that accumulate on City streets - oil and other automobile fluids, metals, bacteria, sediments, trash, pet waste, chemicals and detergents - are flushed down the storm drains causing water contamination. Water quality impairment of this magnitude creates public health risks at our beaches and hurts our economy when beaches are closed.

Commercial businesses have been identified as a large contributor to storm water pollution if the proper pollution prevention practices are not performed regularly. Metals, detergents, trash, pesticides and fertilizers, hazardous chemicals, sediments, oil and other equipment fluids are a few of the many contaminants commercial businesses contribute to storm water and urban runoff pollution. Due to this high potential for storm water pollution, all commercial businesses are now required to perform pollution prevention Best Management Practices.

Click on the links below to find more information about current urban runoff regulations and how to comply with these requirements.

Prohibited Discharges

General Best Management Practices

High Priority Businesses

Publications to assist in compliance efforts

Business License Urban Runoff Information Form- Frequently Asked Questions