Confronting Dirty Water Runoff

With endless miles of asphalt, Los Angeles County has the worst urban runoff problem in the nation. Its severity should dictate adoption of a controversial proposal to help curb the flow of gunk into local bays.

Massive amounts of pesticides, metal residue, oily waste and solid garbage flow to the sea in runoff from lawns, parking lots and streets. Storm drains also carry human viruses and bacteria from sewage that can sicken swimmers. Although most severe in Los Angeles, runoff has fouled many Southern California beaches, forcing closures in Huntington Beach for much of last summer, for example.

Since 1986, the federal Clean Water Act has required cities to cut storm water runoff “to the maximum extent practicable.” But because this form of pollution is so diffuse--virtually every parking lot and street is covered with a thin, oily film--fixes are hard to come by. Until recently, communities mainly exhorted residents not to hose driveway debris into the street or throw trash down storm drains.

Now the Los Angeles region’s water quality board has outlined a promising new approach. Yes, it will cost money, and no, it won’t, by any stretch, completely solve the problem. But proposed new standards could well keep ocean pollution from worsening and help prevent beach closings.

Cities would have to ensure that new developments capture 85% of their rainstorm runoff. The rules, which the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board is considering, would apply to new commercial projects of more than 100,000 square feet, all new gas stations, auto repair garages, restaurants and subdivisions of 10 or more new houses. Developers and city planners could adopt a variety of strategies to contain runoff.

Some localities outside California already have imposed similar runoff standards, but the Los Angeles program would be the largest. Nearby counties like Orange and Ventura are just beginning to grapple with this tough issue. Huntington Beach officials, still puzzled about how to prevent a repeat of last summer’s pollution, are looking for funds to study the problem.

The Los Angeles water board’s executive officer can adopt the new development standards; litigation would be the only other recourse. But a torrent of opposition from nearly every city in the county, including Los Angeles, has caused him to postpone a decision until next year. That opposition may be a reason to consider broader alternatives, but the board should follow through on this good start in dealing with a tough problem. Los Angeles should be a leader in coastal cleanup instead of everyone’s worst example.