We all know the 3-Day Rule.  Don't surf for 3 days after it rains.  The reason is simple enough.  You don't want to swim in what's washing down the streets.  But there's another simple fact that maybe fewer of us realize - it doesn't have to be like this.
 
Stormwater pollution is an avoidable problem.  It's a problem we can fix.  And on April 10th, our Regional Water Quality Control Board in Kearny Mesa will consider taking a big step in the right direction.  Under review is a new stormwater permit that will apply to the entire county of San Diego.  The existing permit is supposed to be “action oriented” by acting as a checklist to hypothetically improve water quality.  It seems like a good approach except for one thing.  It hasn't worked.  We still have the 3-Day Rule and the current process has been in place for years!  When permit holders are in compliance and the ocean is still polluted, it means that there's more work to be done.
 
The good news is that the new approach is results-oriented.  If the water isn't clean, then permittees are in violation. How permit holders achieve clean stormwater runoff is largely going to be up to them.  Unfortunately, the building industry and copermittees are very vocal about potential increased costs from the new permit, and they are trying to weaken key enforcement provisions.
 
If clean water is important to you, if you'd like to surf without worrying about what the weather was like half a week ago, then support Surfrider San Diego and our efforts to encourage the Water Board to hold the line against building industry pressure. Furthermore, it is not just about wet weather runoff, pollution from dry weather flows are constantly polluting our ocean everyday; even more reason as to why we need a STRONG permit.

You should click here to send a letter to the Water Board.  And then come to the Water Board's public meeting on Wednesday, April 10.  It starts at 4 p.m., but we encourage you to come a half hour early if you can.  It will be held at 9174 Sky Park Court, Suite 100, San Diego, 92123 (parking is free).