Storm-drain litter raises the 'yuk' factor around town

By: BARBARA BRILL - For the North County Times | Saturday, November 15, 2003 10:35 PM PST ∞

"Only Rain in the Storm Drain!" has been the motto of the North County Storm Water Program for years.

Yet, despite the educational material that is available to residents, the littering that is seen on city streets and sidewalks, on vacant lots, on beaches and beach walks, and in parks and parking lots, continues to be an ugly problem. A problem that is carried to the storm drains that flow directly into our creeks, our lagoons, our ocean.

Yuk. Those cigarette butts, those dirty diapers, those used needles, those used condoms, those fast-food containers, those broken beer bottles, those chunks of uneaten slices of pizza, those candy wrappers, along with the pet waste, the fertilizers and the oil from cars, all flow into the storm drains, which are not connected to sanitary sewer systems and treatment plants that eliminate human viruses and bacteria.

This month, Carlsbad residents and businesses will begin seeing an increase in their trash bills to help pay for an unfunded mandate that requires cities and states to pay more money to keep their waterways clean.

Our city officials are gearing up to educate the public, and they are working on a plan to increase street sweeping.

One plan that has already been put into motion is the increased sweeping along Jefferson Street, from Carlsbad Village Drive to the Interstate 5 bridge.

Now this area, according to city officials, is the busiest apartment/condo-lined street in the city, with more than 13,200 vehicles passing through each day. Yet, for years, the sweeping program has been a joke, since the long line of parked cars has kept the sweepers away from the curbs, the filth and the litter.

So, in its effort to maintain the street at a high standard, the city has finally posted signs, "No Parking for Street Sweeping," and even notified area residents in advance with written notices ---- in English and Spanish ---- that included dates and times for this basic service.

Yet, during the first sweeping at the beginning of the month, only 85 percent of the street was swept, since 37 cars remained at the curbs.

Courtesy warnings were placed on the windshields, but when the second sweeping gets going this coming week, citations will be issued. And that will cost the car owners a hefty $50 for not paying attention ---- or for not giving a darn.

The city is making a fine effort in its attempts to clean up Jefferson and to keep the storm drains for rain water only.

Consideration has been given to all those who must park on the street by scheduling the sweeping on the east side one day, the west side another day, and by scheduling early mornings for the business area.

From Carlsbad Village Drive to Grand Avenue, both the east and west sides are swept from 3 to 5 a.m. on the first and third Mondays

From Grand Avenue to Laguna Drive, the east side is swept from 8 a.m. to noon on the first and third Tuesdays, and the west side from 3 to 5 a.m. on the first and third Mondays.

From Laguna Drive to the I-5 bridge, the east side is swept from 8 a.m. to noon on the first and third Tuesdays, and the west from 8 a.m. to noon on the first and third Wednesdays.

The next step for the city is to work with the North County Transit District to replace the beat-up trash cans that are chained to posts near the bus stops, as well as those that are in the nearby Maxton-Brown Park.

And, consideration should be given to posting signs that warn people all around the city that fines will be given for littering.

Maybe then, more people will act as responsible citizens who know something about public behavior.

Barbara Brill, a North County Times columnist, is a free-lance writer who has lived in Carlsbad since 1971. Contact: bbrill2@juno.com.