Capturing Debris

The trash-capture device or automatic retractable screen, and the connector pipe screen, which will be below street-level.

Beginning on Monday, August 8, 2011, selected storm drains around town will be equipped with trash capture devices – or automatic retractable screens along with a connector pipe screen – to prevent debris from flowing to the Brisbane Lagoon and San Francisco Bay.  Paid for by federal stimulus funds intended to create jobs and reduce trash in our waters, the City of Brisbane is fortunate to be receiving more funding to complete this project than originally allocated by the San Francisco Estuary Partnership, which was itself awarded $5 million from the State Water Resources Control Board to complete the Bay Area-wide Trash Capture Demonstration Project. 

And how was Brisbane able to be so fortunate to receive the additional funding?  Through the sharing of resources with a nearby city.  The City of Burlingame ended up not utilizing all of its allocated funding for the installation of storm drain screens, and Brisbane needed approximately $4,000 more to complete what was estimated to cost $12,000 to outfit all 14 pre-determined storm drains with the trash-capture screens.  City Water Engineer Jerry Flanagan has been coordinating the request for additional funding with the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), which administers the Estuary Partnership, and this past week, ABAG approved the transfer of funding resources from Burlingame to Brisbane.

The Department of Public Works has determined the 14 storms drains throughout town most in-need of the debris screens, based on winter water flow analysis and debris collection. But everyone must do his or her own part to help keep the Lagoon and Bay free of trash; the trash-capture screens are only a means to an end.  With their help and the active cooperation of Brisbane’s residents and business community, the impact on Bay Area water quality will truly be seen.