Picon, A. (2022, June 11). California cities have spent millions to keep trash out of the San Francisco Bay. Regulators say it’s not nearly enough. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 28, 2022, from https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/articleComments/bay-area-trash-pollution-17204216.php 

May of 2022, state environmental regulators approved regulations giving Bay Area cities three years to remove all trash from their stormwater systems. This is due to water pollution from litter getting swept by storms into the Bay. Communities like Oakland and San Jose are fighting back because of how much money they would have to spend on catch basins and trash-capture devices. Additionally, most Bay Area cities don’t use treatment facilities to filter out trash from stormwater drainage, so this regulation would be very financially burdening. Regulators will also stop counting credits from volunteer cleanups by 2025 under these new regulations, putting greater stress on cities. 

This article is related to environmental science because it deals with water pollution, which kills animals and harms ecosystems. Moreover, it discusses the impacts of storms, which sweep trash into large water bodies. My reaction to this article was not positive or negative. I understand cities’ stress, though I think that the environment should always be a top priority. We need clean water to survive, and biodiversity is also an asset that has many benefits for humanity. I think compromise can be made- such as extending the deadline for environmental clean-up. I also reacted negatively to the disallowing of credits to meet regulation, because I think volunteering is impactful and should be recognized. Bay Area cities already face enough pressure as is and should be helped in achieving clean-up goals.