Port of San Diego Encourages Public to Take Pledge to Protect San Diego Bay

The Port of San Diego is calling on residents, businesses and visitors to take a voluntary pledge to help protect San Diego Bay by adopting simple, everyday actions that prevent pollution and keep the bay clean and healthy for generations to come.

The Port oversees the maintenance and development of San Diego Bay and its surrounding waterfront on behalf of the citizens of the state of California. Central to that mission is being a good steward of the bay and ensuring environmental responsibility in everything the Port does.

It is important to keep in mind that no matter where you are in the San Diego Bay watershed, all exposed outdoor pollutants have the potential to end up in the bay or other local waterways. Wind, rain and even animals can carry pollutants into storm drains and into the bay. Unlike the sewer system, which carries wastewater from sinks and toilets to treatment facilities, storm drains carry untreated water straight to the bay or ocean.

Although trash might be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of pollution, it is only part of the problem. Chemical fertilizers, cleaners and pesticides, oil leaking from cars, and pet waste also have the potential to be washed into storm drains by the rain. These substances can harm fish, sea turtles and other marine life, and degrade the bay's water quality.

San Diego Bay belongs to all of us. Become an environmental champion of San Diego Bay by making a pledge. The Port has highlighted a few pledges you can make today to contribute to a cleaner, safer and more beautiful waterfront. For example:

• Choose environmentally friendly cleaning and lawn care products to help prevent harmful chemicals from entering San Diego Bay.
• Store household hazardous waste in secure containers until it can be properly disposed of at San Diego's hazardous waste facilities.
• Always pick up after your pet to prevent waste and bacteria from spreading around the environment and polluting waterways and/or San Diego Bay.
• Service your vehicle regularly to prevent fluid leaks that could wash into San Diego Bay.
• Ensure trash is placed in proper bins, so it never ends up in San Diego Bay.

By taking the pledge and adopting one or more of these practices, the community can play a vital role in protecting San Diego Bay. For more tips on how to help keep the bay clean, visit portofsandiego.org/thatsmybay.