College of Business Administration

GROUP MEMBERS:

Beal
Daly
Ferreira
Licudan
Maestas

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

When we set out to accomplish our social change project we had two objectives. First we wanted to make a positive contribution to an existing program. Basically, we wanted to contribute in a way that wouldn't abandon a program at the end of the semester. Secondly and most importantly we wanted to do something positive for the environment. We decided to focus on the problem of our polluted waterways. We contacted various state and local agencies and came across Think Blue, the City of San Diego's Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program.

Think Blue was very enthusiastic about the possibility of our group contributing to the program. We contacted the code compliance office of the City of San Diego; who informed us that there was a lot of help needed with charity car wash events. Thus we set up a meeting with one of the City's code compliance officers, Peter Bryan. Peter explained the problems with charity car wash events and told us what areas needed the most help. The main problem with charity car wash events is that they produce a large amount of runoff, this runoff is a source of pollution and violates city code when allowed to enter the storm drains. We discussed various solutions to the problem of polluted runoff, and possible ways our group could contribute to Think Blue.

Our original project goal was to educate charity car wash organizers on the proper way of managing runoff from large car washes. The plan was threefold; first, we would learn how to properly manage runoff from a car wash. Second, we would then take our knowledge of the proper way to manage the runoff and hold demonstrations to various charities involved in car wash events. Third, we would solicit sponsors to donate materials that we would distribute to the various charities to help prevent car wash runoff from reaching the storm drains.

Unfortunately this plan proved too difficult to implement, and we lacked sufficient support on the technical details of managing polluted runoff. So we changed our focus and decided to compile a list of potential sites where a charity could conduct car wash without polluting and violating city code.

We targeted businesses that allow charity car wash events on their property. The majority of businesses that allow these events are gas stations. We felt that if we could compile a list of compliant gas stations, i.e. hooked up to the sewer system, we would help Think Blue in reducing the number of non-compliant car wash events. Another benefit of compiling a list would be positive recognition for the businesses involved, through advertising that they too care about the community and environment.

The social and ethical significance of our project is utilitarianism and land ethic. Under the framework of utilitarianism we are creating good through pollution prevention which we all can enjoy while limiting a few individuals who would rather dump pollutants into storm drains. Under the framework of Land Ethic our group contributed to the preservation and stability of the oceans and waterways by creating awareness about potential sources of pollution.

Our project has been fairly successful, however we did encounter a couple of set backs along the way. Our first setback occurred when our original design was to difficult to implement, and our next setback occurred when it was discovered rather late in the implementation of our second plan that no gas station in San Diego is hooked up to the sewer system. So instead we targeted businesses that allow charity car wash events, mostly gas stations, and asked them to display and hand out the Think Blue Kits to create a better awareness and understanding of the possible ways to reduce pollution. At this time Think Blue is preparing more kits for our group to distribute.