A core part of the Stormwater Quality Leadership Program involves putting treatment control Best Management Practices (BMPs) into action. These BMPs are strategies designed to reduce the amount of pollution carried by stormwater runoff. One of the most important BMPs students learn how to implement is routine maintenance of catch basins around their campus. By treating school grounds as a micro-watershed, a smaller area within a larger watershed, students gain a practical understanding of how land use directly affects the health of nearby waterways.
​
Catch basins are designed to collect rainwater while trapping trash, leaves, sediment, and other pollutants. Without regular maintenance, this debris can accumulate and eventually be washed into the storm system during rainfall, contributing to downstream pollution. To prevent this, students clean out the basins using proper safety equipment and procedures, gaining valuable hands-on experience while contributing to environmental protection.

In one recent cleanout, student leaders at Mission Viejo High School spent nearly three hours removing debris from a high-traffic drain,  filling a 60-pound bag with debris that included wrappers, leaves, and layers of sediment. The effort not only reduced pollution risks on campus but gave students hands-on experience using proper safety procedures and professional maintenance tools.

At Los Alamitos High School, students recently investigated a high-traffic drain on campus that had unusually high levels of sediment and turbidity (cloudy water caused by suspended particles). To improve the condition of this drain, the student team proposed installing or upgrading mesh filters inside the catch basin to catch larger debris before it enters the drainage system, helping improve water quality downstream.
​
Through projects like these, students are not only learning about real-world industry practices, they are also actively making a difference in their communities by protecting water resources.