Bioswale at Warm Springs / South Fremont Station
BART’s efforts to conserve water and prevent waterway pollution from storm runoff produce considerable results because BART is one of the largest landowners in the Bay Area. It’s important to note that reducing the number of cars on the road keeps the region’s waterways cleaner, which is one of the many environmental benefits that BART offers to the Bay Area at large. BART and its riders have roles to play in both minimizing water use and preventing pollution from entering Bay Area waterways.
Water use
BART tracks its water use annually to understand trends and look for conservation opportunities. In 2024, BART used about 53 million gallons of water, equivalent to the annual water needs of about 2,500 residents or about 950 households in the Bay Area (1). 76% of BART’s water use was for general purposes and 24% was for irrigation specifically. On average, total water use per station was roughly 720,000 annually, equivalent to water use by 13 Bay Area households. However, water use by each station varies greatly depending on irrigation needs, bathroom usage, and how recently fixtures have been upgraded.
More details can be found in Annual Sustainability Reports at Policies, Plans and Reports page.
(1) Based on the average annual per Bay Area resident water use of 20,878 gallons from the 2023-2024 Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency survey, found at https://bawsca.org/water/use/percapita, and the average persons per Bay Area household of 2.58 in 2024 from the January 2025 Numbers in the News produced by the Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy (www.ccsce.com).
Storm runoff
Trash is a major pollutant in California and is particularly problematic when it enters the region’s waterways. Because stormwater flows untreated and unfiltered to the bay through gutters and storm drains, trash discarded on land frequently makes its way into streams, creeks, rivers, and eventually the ocean. This includes common pollutants like cigarette butts, paper, fast food containers, plastic bags, cans and bottles, and more.
What BART is doing to prevent stormwater pollution
BART takes its role in keeping Bay Area waterways clean seriously and engages in a multi-pronged effort to prevent pollutants from entering storm drains and gutters by:
- Installing storm drain markers to inform the public that what goes down that drain flows to the bay, as shown in the photo above.
- Using drought resistant plants and efficient irrigation systems in its landscaping to preserve water and minimize run-off.
- Cleaning parking lots and plazas at least weekly to remove trash and pollutants.
- Recycling the water used to wash train cars.
- Moving towards low-impact development as a standard practice, an approach that works with nature to manage stormwater as close to the source as possible.
- Using biofiltration to remove pollutants from its parking facilities, such as the multiple bioswales installed in the parking areas found at Warm Springs/ South Fremont Station.
Questions or Feedback
Please send an email to [email protected].