Water Quality Monitoring Programs

Under various state and local regulations, the Clean Water Program is required to monitor the water quality of our rivers, creeks and beaches. Three separate monitoring programs have been instituted in Oceanside: the Dry Weather Analytical Monitoring and Field Screening Program, the Coastal and Lagoon Outfall Monitoring Program and the Beach Water Quality Monitoring Program.

Dry Weather Analytical Monitoring and Field Screening Program
	This program is designed to test the water quality of our rivers and creeks in May through September, months when little to no rainfall occurs. Testing during the “dry season” allows the City an opportunity to measure the quality of our rivers and creeks when only urban runoff is entering our waterbodies. By understanding how urban runoff discharges affect our local waterbodies, it gives us more information about the quantity and seriousness of certain pollutant problems and where they might originate.
Coastal and Lagoon Outfall Monitoring Program
	In order to monitor the affects of urban runoff discharges to our lagoons and the ocean, storm drain outfalls on our coastline and around the lagoons and harbor are observed year round. All storm drains west of Interstate 5 feed urban runoff to these outfall pipes and eventually the ocean. Clean Water Program staff regularly monitor the outfall pipes to see if any water is discharging to the ocean. If so, two samples are taken: one of the water coming out of the pipes and one of nearby ocean water. These two samples help us determine whether or not the urban runoff coming from the outfall pipes is affecting the water quality of the ocean.
Beach Water Quality Monitoring Program
	Mandated by the Beach Safety Bill, the City of Oceanside and the County of San Diego collect samples of our ocean water to test for bacteria. Ten monitoring locations, sampled weekly between April through September and biweekly October through March, determine whether or not the beaches should be closed to the public or posted for high bacteria counts. This type of monitoring assures the safety of the recreational users of Oceanside’s beautiful beaches. For more information about beach advisories, visit the Oceana Website.
Citizens Monitoring Program
	Outside of regulated monitoring programs there are concerned citizens groups who help local government agencies collect water quality information. The San Diego Stream Team is a local non-profit citizens group in which many government agencies and staff’s endorse and/or participate. They spend a great deal of time collecting information and hosting educational workshops for citizens interested in water quality monitoring. Conducting primarily chemical and biological tests, San Diego Stream Team uses standard environmental Protection Agency procedures for collecting and analyzing water quality samples.