UCSD's Storm Water Management Plan aims to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants from outdoor activities into storm drains.

All outdoor drains are storm drains and are meant only for rain. Everything that flows into a UCSD storm drain goes untreated directly into nearby waterways such as the Pacific Ocean and Rose Canyon Creek. Pollutants picked up by storm water can prevent recreational use of waterways and harm the habitat for fish, other aquatic organisms, and wildlife.

UCSD's best management practices (BMPs) apply to outdoor activities that may potentially release pollutants into storm drains:

• Review UCSD's Storm Water Pollution Prevention Best Management Practices.
• Follow BMPs that apply to your activities.

Common pollutants addressed in the BMPs:

• Oil and grease from roadways and parking lots
• Wash water from outdoor cleaning activities
• Pesticides and fertilizers from grounds maintenance
• Sediment from construction sites and erosion
• Discarded trash such as cigarette butts, paper wrappers, and plastic bottles
• Metals from roadway runoff (e.g., tires and brake pads) and aerial deposition
• Bacteria

Report non-storm water discharges into UCSD storm drains to Environment, Health & Safety, (858) 534-3660. Anything that discharges into a storm drain that is not composed entirely of storm water is a non-storm water discharge (e.g., irrigation water runoff, clean tap water).

Questions about UCSD's storm water management plan? Contact EH&S Environmental Affairs, (858) 534-6018 or 534-3660.