Because of Southern California’s unique coastal terrain, every Orange County resident and business exists in one of the 13 local watersheds, a geographic area of land that drains water to a shared destination.
While most people associate seawater contamination with “point source” issues, such as sewage or accidental industrial spills, the majority of Orange County’s urban runoff pollution actually originates from disparate “non-point” sources of runoff. Every day, the bacteria, pesticides, chemicals and other byproducts of upstream agricultural, industrial, commercial, and residential activities combine with excess water, creating urban runoff pollution that flows through the local watersheds and directly to the Pacific Ocean.
The resulting “toxic soup” created by urban runoff pollution has become the leading threat to the quality and safety of Orange County’s coastal waters, creating dangerous, and potentially fatal, health risks to beachgoers. In fact, health authorities regularly issue advisories, encouraging beachgoers avoid local waters due to elevated bacteria levels for up to three days, after just 1/10th of an inch of rainfall.
Under California law and US EPA requirements, local agencies routinely collect and analyze water samples, from designated sites along Orange County’s shorelines, for indicators that signal the presence of potentially disease-causing organisms (pathogens). In addition to various bacteria associated with fecal matter, banned pesticides and chemicals, including DDT and PCBs, as well as several metals, such as copper, lead, mercury and zinc, are also found in Orange County’s coastal waters.
Epidemiology studies have shown that swimming in waters with significant bacteria indicators can increase a person’s risk for developing a range of illnesses, from stomach flu to ear or upper respiratory infections, as well as potentially life-threatening staph infections. In February 2009, University of Miami researchers estimated that ocean swimmers had a 1-in-3 chance of being exposed to staph organisms – even in waters without any direct sewage pollution source.
Orange County business leader John Moody is all too familiar with the potential health risks from local waters. In 2001, he was hospitalized after staph-infected seawater invaded his body through a tiny scratch on his arm while he was teaching his kids how to surf. Upon his recovery, Moody was inspired to start the Miocean Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping preserve and protect Orange County’s coastal waters.
By partnering with local counties, cities, water districts, and non-governmental organizations, Miocean has helped make measurable improvements in preserving and protecting Orange County's coastline, making our local waters safer for all.
Since its establishment, Miocean has committed millions of dollars to curb the harmful effects of urban runoff pollution. Among the foundation’s notable successes to date: working with the City of Newport Beach and the California Department of Fish and Game to create the new Back Bay Science Center and Laboratory, a $6 million campus with a state-of-the-art ocean testing laboratory and educational facilities.
Miocean also helped establish a run-off diversion system that removes an average of 6 tons of litter and debris annually from the North Creek / Doheny Beach area, and was instrumental in the installation of state-of-the-art water treatment plants at Salt Creek-Monarch Bay and Poche Beach in San Clemente. The nonprofit also is actively identifying and supporting several additional critical water improvement projects along Orange County’s 42-mile coastline.
For more information about Miocean and urban run-off pollution, visit www.miocean.org
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Miocean Salutes President Obama And Interagency Ocean Policy Taskforce, Encourages Appropriate Focus On Addressing Urban Runoff
Miocean is a nonprofit organization based in Orange County, CA that has been dedicated to preserving and protecting coastal waterways for the past 7 years. Miocean commends President Obama and the members of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force for taking an active role in protecting our shorelines and waterways, which are among of our nation’s most important natural, recreational, and economic resources.
Miocean encourages the Task Force in its policy recommendations to place appropriate focus and resources to address the growing problem of urban runoff pollution, which the US Commission on Ocean Policy considers to be one of the greatest threats to the health and viability of our oceans(1).
Urban runoff pollution occurs daily, as the byproducts of agricultural, industrial, commercial, and residential activities combine with excess water, creating a “toxic soup” of runoff that flows through our nation’s watersheds. In fact, the Pew Charitable Trust estimates that 1 million+ gallons of oil and automotive byproducts flow from driveways and roadways into the nation’s waters every month, and that 60% of coastal rivers and bays have been degraded by nutrient runoff (2). Locally, water samples taken along Orange County’s shoreline routinely contain bacteria associated with fecal matter, banned pesticides and chemicals, including DDT and PCBs, as well as such metals as copper, lead, mercury and zinc(3).
Because of the impact of urban runoff pollution, ocean health directly translates to personal health.
According to epidemiology studies(4), every ocean encounter increases a person’s risk for developing illnesses, ranging from stomach flu’s to potentially life-threatening staph infections. This places every child who wades into the water, every kid who participates in a surfing school, or anyone who simply takes a swim, at risk. In fact, the Miocean Foundation was established in 2002 after an Orange County business leader contracted a life-threatening bacterial illness from local ocean water.
Miocean’s approach to measurably improving the health of our oceans involves directly addressing the issue of urban runoff pollution. We partner with local counties, cities, water districts, and non-governmental organizations to increase consumer education and awareness. We also develop and apply tangible solutions, including natural habitat restoration, end-of-pipe water treatment systems, and other environmental technologies to improve water quality and safety.
We encourage the Task Force to give appropriate emphasis to the critical issue of urban runoff pollution, enhancing public awareness and encouraging America’s businesses and citizens to actively reduce their contributions to the nation’s watersheds.
In Miocean’s experience, individual actions can positively impact the watersheds. The right federal policies will be key to reinforcing the role every committed and concerned citizen has in ensuring that our nation’s waterways remain clean, safe, and a source of well-being, enjoyment and vitality for all.
We appreciate the Task Force’s consideration, and welcome the opportunity to provide additional input to address the growing challenge of urban runoff pollution and its impact on our nation’s waterways.
(1) “An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century Final Report” U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy
(2) “America’s Living Oceans: Charting a Course for Sea Change,” Pew Charitable Trust, May 03.
(3) 2007 Annual Ocean and Bay Water Quality Report, County of Orange, CA., March 08.
(4) "Antibiotic Resistance: Rising Concern in Marine Ecosystems,” Science Daily, Feb. 25 2009.
Miocean encourages the Task Force in its policy recommendations to place appropriate focus and resources to address the growing problem of urban runoff pollution, which the US Commission on Ocean Policy considers to be one of the greatest threats to the health and viability of our oceans(1).
Urban runoff pollution occurs daily, as the byproducts of agricultural, industrial, commercial, and residential activities combine with excess water, creating a “toxic soup” of runoff that flows through our nation’s watersheds. In fact, the Pew Charitable Trust estimates that 1 million+ gallons of oil and automotive byproducts flow from driveways and roadways into the nation’s waters every month, and that 60% of coastal rivers and bays have been degraded by nutrient runoff (2). Locally, water samples taken along Orange County’s shoreline routinely contain bacteria associated with fecal matter, banned pesticides and chemicals, including DDT and PCBs, as well as such metals as copper, lead, mercury and zinc(3).
Because of the impact of urban runoff pollution, ocean health directly translates to personal health.
According to epidemiology studies(4), every ocean encounter increases a person’s risk for developing illnesses, ranging from stomach flu’s to potentially life-threatening staph infections. This places every child who wades into the water, every kid who participates in a surfing school, or anyone who simply takes a swim, at risk. In fact, the Miocean Foundation was established in 2002 after an Orange County business leader contracted a life-threatening bacterial illness from local ocean water.
Miocean’s approach to measurably improving the health of our oceans involves directly addressing the issue of urban runoff pollution. We partner with local counties, cities, water districts, and non-governmental organizations to increase consumer education and awareness. We also develop and apply tangible solutions, including natural habitat restoration, end-of-pipe water treatment systems, and other environmental technologies to improve water quality and safety.
We encourage the Task Force to give appropriate emphasis to the critical issue of urban runoff pollution, enhancing public awareness and encouraging America’s businesses and citizens to actively reduce their contributions to the nation’s watersheds.
In Miocean’s experience, individual actions can positively impact the watersheds. The right federal policies will be key to reinforcing the role every committed and concerned citizen has in ensuring that our nation’s waterways remain clean, safe, and a source of well-being, enjoyment and vitality for all.
We appreciate the Task Force’s consideration, and welcome the opportunity to provide additional input to address the growing challenge of urban runoff pollution and its impact on our nation’s waterways.
(1) “An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century Final Report” U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy
(2) “America’s Living Oceans: Charting a Course for Sea Change,” Pew Charitable Trust, May 03.
(3) 2007 Annual Ocean and Bay Water Quality Report, County of Orange, CA., March 08.
(4) "Antibiotic Resistance: Rising Concern in Marine Ecosystems,” Science Daily, Feb. 25 2009.
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