Water Quality & Clean Ocean Program

Nationwide, urban runoff and stormwater pollution are the most common causes of water degradation. Urban runoff and stormwater pollution are caused by the daily activities of people everywhere. Rainwater, irrigation overflow and water from cleaning activities run off parking lots, lawns, construction sites and other locations throughout the City, picking up a variety of pollutants (such as trash, fertilizers, dirt, pesticides, oil and grease) on the way to our creeks, canyons, and coastal waters.

"Stormwater runoff" occurs during rains, when water drains off hard surfaces like paved streets, parking lots, and building rooftops. In order to prevent flooding, stormwater is carried through the storm drain system to local creeks and canyons and is eventually discharged to the ocean.

"Urban runoff" differs in that it is generated by daily human activities, such as irrigating landscaped areas, hosing hardscapes, and cleaning machines or equipment outdoors. Water from these activities carries a concoction of chemicals, debris, sediment and other pollutants to the ocean via the same storm drain system.

The primary method to control urban runoff and stormwater pollution is through the use of best management practices, or BMPs. BMPs are simple measures people and businesses can take to reduce urban runoff and stormwater pollution. Select the "Home and Business" tab to learn more about BMPs.

The Clean Program works hard to improve water quality, protect public health and the environment.

Beginning in 2019, the City of San Clemente implemented a Pier Bacteria Source Characterization Study to identify the source(s) causing bacteria exceedances in the Pacific Ocean Shoreline under and around the municipal pier. The City Council approved the formation of a Stakeholder Advisory Committee provided provide feedback on project work products.  The study was completed in 2024 and the final report can be viewed here.  The report documents the identification and implementation of cost-effective solutions to address the highest priority source(s) of bacteria and protect public health.

Allowable Discharges

The following discharges are allowed, however, every effort should be made to reduce discharges to the storm drain system whenever possible.

• Individual residential car washing.
• Rising ground waters.
• Uncontaminated ground water infiltration.
• Uncontaminated pumped ground water.
• Spring discharge.
• Air conditioning condensation discharge.
• Flows from riparian habitats and wetland discharge.
• De-chlorinated swimming pool discharge.
• Water from crawl space pumps.
• Discharges from potable water sources not subject to NPDES Permit No. CAG679001, other than water main breaks.
• Fountain drain discharge.
• Footing drain discharge.
• Water line flushing from existing (not new) water lines*.

*Exemption excludes fire suppression sprinkler system maintenance and testing discharges.

Non-Allowable - Unlawful Discharges

All Other Discharges to The MS4 including but not limited to:

• Discharges of irrigation water from landscaped areas.  
• Discharges of any wash water from any cleaning or hosing of impervious surfaces in municipal, industrial, commercial, and residential areas including parking lots, streets, sidewalks, driveways, patios, plazas, work yards and outdoor eating or drinking areas.
• Discharges that result from the cleaning, repair or maintenance of any type of equipment, machinery, or facility including motor vehicles, cement-related equipment, and port-a-potty servicing.
• Discharges of wash water from the hosing or cleaning of gas stations, auto repair garages, or other types of automotive service facilities.
• Sewage discharges.
• Discharges of wash water from mobile operations such as mobile automobile washing/detail, steam cleaning, power washing, pet grooming and carpet cleaning.
• Discharges of runoff from material storage areas containing chemicals, fuels, grease, oil, or other hazardous material.
• Discharges of pool or fountain water containing chlorine, biocides, or other chemicals; discharges of pool or fountain backwash water and pool filter media (DE).
• Discharges of sediment, pet waste, vegetation clippings, or other landscape or construction related wastes.
• Discharges of food related wastes or cleaning material (e.g. grease, fish processing, and restaurant kitchen mat and trash bin wash water).

Tips for Reducing Irrigation Runoff

Regardless of any water shortage status, irrigation runoff into the curb and gutter and the connected storm drain system is prohibited by the State, local agencies and water districts. This includes runoff from curb hole drains. Irrigation runoff can pick up pollutants that accumulate on the ground like dirt, bacteria, trash, and motor oil, and send it into the nearest storm drain inlet, where the water is quickly transported to our creeks and ocean untreated. Follow these tips to prevent irrigation runoff:

• Adjust sprinklers so they don’t spray onto streets and sidewalks.
• Repair leaking or broken sprinklers.
• Water in short cycles (3-5 minutes) to allow water to absorb into the soil.
• Program your irrigation to run in the early morning, when wind speeds are typically lowest.
• Temporarily cover your yard drain - which was designed to prevent flooding during heavy rains - with a bowl or mat when irrigating in otherwise dry weather.
• Replace thirsty landscapes with drought-tolerant or native plants. 

Only fertilize 48 Hours After It Rains

It may seem like a good way to leach nutrients into the soil, but applying fertilizer (or more eco-friendly organic compost) before a rain event will cause most of the nitrogen and phosphorous to run off into our waterways. These chemicals can cause algal blooms in our local creeks and channels, depriving plants of the nutrients they need to survive and harming fish by depleting dissolved oxygen when the algae begins to die off, which also contributes to the growth of bacteria in waterways. You can protect the ocean from these chemicals, algae, and bacteria and keep our beaches safe for recreation by only applying fertilizer and compost once the rain is behind us!

San Clemente’s Jurisdictional Runoff Management Program

The Jurisdictional Runoff Management Program (JRMP) is the City’s local program for implementing a variety of activities to comply with stormwater permit requirements and protect human health in recreational surface waters. The JRMP is based on model programs and guidance developed jointly by the County of Orange and Orange County cities.

Regional water quality-related documents can be found at the Orange County Regional Clearinghouse including the South Orange County Watershed Management Area Water Quality Improvement Plan.