Public Works is committed to doing its part in keeping the environment and oceans free from litter. To comply with water quality standards, Public Works has installed over 450 trash control devices at stormwater catch basins, which prevents approximately 9,000 pounds of trash, annually, from entering our oceans. Trash screens are required for compliance with the State’s trash regulation policy and captured trash is reported to the County and to the State. The City plans to install additional trash control devices when possible.  

Automatic Retractable Screens

To comply with water quality standards, the installation of Automatic Retractable Screens (ARS) on catch basins throughout the city is required for compliance with the State’s trash regulation policy. Public Works ensures that the storm drains are free of debris and that the internal screens are operational to allow maximum water flow in the event of heavy rains. Catch basin cleaning combined with street sweeping are integral parts of the City’s Best Management Practices (BMPs) and divert tons of debris, annually, from entering the City’s storm drain system. 

Retractable screens keep trash and environmental debris in the gutter, which is then removed by the street sweeping equipment during dry weather. During rain events, the ARS opens to prevent flooding. The ARS significantly reduce the trash load from our City to the storm drain system, our creeks and wetlands, and eventually the ocean.

Storm Drain Catch Basins

Public Works has installed over 450 trash control devices at City storm drain catch basins, with plans to install additional trash control devices when possible. Cleaning and inspection of storm drain catch basins by City contractors is done annually, in advance of the winter season, in order to ensure that the storm drains are free of debris and that the internal screens are operational to allow maximum water flow in the event of heavy rains. The debris removed from the catch basins is weighed and separated and estimated total quantities of removed debris are reported to the County and the State.