Photo by Sarah Bennett

By Phil Dao | While the rest of the country dreams about the balmy 70-degree winter we’ve been experiencing on the West Coast, Southern Californians are instead hoping for almost the exact opposite.

With a snowpack that’s 50 to 70 percent below the seasonal norm, and a six-inch rainfall deficit (on top of an 11-inch deficit from last year), we’ve been holding out for even a light drizzle. We’ll all breathe a collective sigh of relief this week when the temperatures cool and we see the first few drops of rain, even if it’s only momentary.

This week, a few storms will pass through the Los Angeles area, offering some reprieve from the current dry spell. Although this won’t end the drought, the stormwater runoff may cause health concerns for our oceans that I and my colleagues at the Los Angeles County Association of Environmental Health Specialists are working to prevent.

We all know to stay off the slick freeways after the first rain, but not as many people know to also stay out of our waters. When it rains in Los Angeles, untreated stormwater travels along paved roads and through a vast system of drains that empty directly into our ocean. This runoff carries potentially harmful debris and pollutants, including trash, animal waste, fertilizer, pesticides and automobile fluids.

With below average rainfall, these substances have built up over time. The upcoming storms bring welcome relief on one hand, but warrant caution on the other. Many of our major beaches and ports receive significant amounts of runoff. For example, several major rivers, channels and stormwater pumps release runoff into the port of Long Beach. Generating up to an estimated 10 billion gallons of runoff, these storms could carry pollutants that will impact both our beaches and our health.

You may recognize the Association of Environmental Health Specialists as the restaurant graders, inspecting Los Angeles County eateries and distributing letter grades to improve food safety. What you probably do not recognize is that we also provide other critical services that contribute to public health in the County, including water safety inspections for our drinking water supply and our oceans.

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At the Association of Environmental Health Specialists, we want to make sure that resident beachgoers, swimmers and visitors stay healthy by ensuring our world-renowned beaches stay healthy. In order to do this, our licensed and trained health and safety experts proactively work in our beach communities to measure and evaluate what’s in our oceans and increase public awareness of potential hazards, making our beaches safer.

In anticipation of our next rain, there are some simple steps that Angelenos can take to reduce harmful runoff. Remembering not to litter, picking up after our pets, and recycling yard clippings can go a long way in preventing polluted stormwater. We can also recycle our motor oil, avoid using harsh house cleaners and minimize fertilizer or pesticide use in our gardens.

A little bit of effort will go a long way towards keeping our beaches clean and healthy. When the rain subsides and we return to our warm winter, let’s remember to look out for our oceans. 

Phil Dao is the President of the Board of the Los Angeles County Association of Environmental Health Specialists.