OCTA Helps San Clemente Cut the Beach Trash at Linda Lane

Beachgoers might see a lot less litter at soon.

The city of San Clemente has received $56,500 from the Orange County Transportation Authority to install a device that uses the energy of rushing storm water to separate trash and pollutants and catch them in a basin.

The city will ultimately pay $56,500 out of its own coffers for the $113,000 cost of installation and equipment to treat the Linda Lane runoff.

Nearly $3 million in the OCTA's first award of Measure M2 water-quality funds was granted Tuesday to 34 projects that include providing catch basins to prevent trash from entering drainage systems, screens that capture smaller debris and irrigation system improvements to decrease oily runoff from streets.

Trade journals quoting watershed officials have touted the effectiveness of continuous-deflection separators, which are used in storm water systems from L.A. to Orlando, FL.

The cylindrical device fits into the storm drain system underground. Inside, a screen is coiled like the inside of a snail shell. The water flows into the coiled screen and creates a whirlpool, collecting floating trash—and even motor oil—and allowing sediment to drift to the bottom chamber.

Workers clean out the trap periodically.

M2 was approved by voters in 2006. Two percent of the half-cent sales tax will be used on a countywide, competitive basis to meet federal Clean Water Act standards for controlling transportation-generated pollution.

In this first round of funding, OCTA received applications for 47 projects.