Hermosa Beach, CA to retrofit its Stormwater Drainage System-

Through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding, the City of Hermosa Beach, California will revamp its stormwater management system via a ‘Greenstreet’ retrofit of Pier Avenue. Currently, the biggest contamination threat to Southern California coasts continues to be stormwater runoff; consequently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State Water Resources Control Board have initiated a Clean Water State Revolving Loan funding program to aid in such cases. The $1.3 million green investment will supply a new storm drain system designed to resolve existing flood problems and reduce stormwater pollution to the nearby beaches. “The City of Hermosa Beach should be commended for applying innovative low-impact development (LID) tools to address urban runoff and protect beach users,” said John Kemmerer, associate Water Division director for EPA’s Pacific Southwest region. “Retrofit projects like this are particularly challenging.” The drainage retrofit will integrate a cutting-edge filtration system which will hold on to stormwater runoff, irrigate new drought-resistant landscaping and redirect runoff that would end up in the ocean. Unfortunately, beaches throughout Hermosa have become tainted because most surpass the state’s bacteria standard, and this retrofit will aid in reducing discharges of bacteria-ridden stormwater as well as manage garbage which would otherwise be washed into the ocean. To add, reclaimed water will be used for irrigation in the downtown area, making this a sustainable move for the city.