The City of St. Augustine Beach takes numerous steps to improve the quality of our surface waters by reducing the amount of pollution carried to our waterways due to stormwater runoff.
Rain that is not absorbed into the ground due to an impervious surface, like concrete or asphalt, is considered stormwater runoff and will eventually enter the City's stormwater system.
Using a network of underground pipes, ditches, and ponds, the City's stormwater system is designed to collect runoff and channel it to our waterways.
Unfortunately, runoff also includes a variety of toxic pollutants that are carried from the streets and parking lots into the stormwater system, into our local waterways, and ultimately to the ocean. These pollutants can include vehicle fluids (oil, antifreeze. etc.) brake dust, rubber tire dust; soaps and cleaning chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides. This type of pollution is called non-point source pollution because it comes from many unidentifiable sources making it hard to regulate and prevent.
Stormwater pollution can effect any surface waters and is a major problem in cities all over the country. Without regulation and prevention, it can significantly impact our coastal community.
The best way to reduce stormwater pollution is to stop it at its source.
Keep your storm drains clean and free of debris and remember that any pollutants flushed down a storm drain will directly affect the quality of our waterways.
Here are some easy tips to start following that will keep our waterways clean:
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Work on vehicles where oil and grease will not be washed into gutters or down storm drains. Used oil should be contained and taken to a collection center. The City of St. Augustine Beach provides this service free of charge.
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Grass clippings should be bagged and disposed of with yard waste and not dumped where they can clog the pipes.
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Do not wash dirty paint brushes under an outdoor faucet. Water-based paints can be washed in a sink; oil based paint should be cleaned with a paint thinner, filtered out, wrapped in newspaper and discarded with the trash.
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Pet waste should be disposed of in a garden, in the trash, or in a toilet.
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Wash vehicles in the grass or on an area that can absorb the runoff water to keep the chemicals from flowing into a storm drain.
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Keep pesticide use to a minimum and do not fertilize right before it rains.
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Keep trash and other debris out of gutters and away from storm drains.
Dumping waste down storm drains is not only bad for the environment, it is illegal too. If you have questions or a complaint please click here or call the City of St. Augustine Beach Public Works Department at 904-471-1119, or email at Public-Works [at] cityofsab.org.
Getting ready to prepare for a storm event? Download our NPDES Storm Event Preparation slideshow and visit our Hurricane Preparedness - Do you Know Your Flood Zone page.
Have a concern or request regarding City operations? Click here.