Managing our limited water resources
It’s that time of year again: monsoon season is arriving. This is when all across southern Arizona, we anxiously await those cooling, sustaining rains but also hope to avoid potentially dangerous street flooding and pollution from stormwater runoff.
Monsoon storms can flush garbage, household yard chemicals, motor oil, gasoline, and animal waste through streets, into the watercourses and ultimately into fragile desert environments.
As the greater Tucson region’s federally designated water quality planning agency, PAG creates and implements an Areawide Water Quality Management Plan. The plan, also known as the 208 Plan, in reference to Section 208 of the U.S. Clean Water Act, defines regional integrated planning of wastewater, stormwater, surface water, groundwater and solid waste, and is approved at the state and federal levels.
PAG works with Tucson-area jurisdictions to develop and implement strategies to minimize the potential harms associated with stormwater runoff and takes a role in helping to promote these strategies and programs to raise public awareness.
“The public is an important partner in keeping potentially hazardous items from accumulating in our regional waterways,” said Melanie Alvarez, Planning Coordinator at PAG. “With just a little bit of education, everyone in the community can easily help minimize the risks of stormwater runoff-related pollution.”
Maybe the easiest of these is picking up after your dog to minimize runoff pollution. Dog waste may contain E. coli and other pathogens that can pollute watercourses. By removing dog waste while on walks or hikes, you can help minimize the risks.
Keeping vehicles in proper working order also can limit the amount of chemicals such as radiator fluid, oil, brake fluid, and other polluting chemicals from entering the watercourses.
Herbicides and insecticides also can add to stormwater pollution. By applying these products when rain isn’t forecast within a few days, you can limit the possible impacts and save money by not having storms wash them away.
Green stormwater systems for landscaping and home design have become popular for aesthetic reasons and water savings benefits but also can minimize the amount of debris and harmful substances that escape into the environment. This method includes using passive harvesting methods to capture stormwater on your property to water plants which also help some pollutants biodegrade in the soil.
Know your monsoon
Monsoon: The summer rainy season in the desert Southwest runs from June 15 to Sept. 30. In southern Arizona, monsoon rains often bring half or more of our region’s annual rainfall.
Current/average monsoon totals: Monsoon rain totals can vary widely from year-to-year. In 2020, for instance, the monsoon brought less than two inches of rainfall. The next year, more than 12 inches of rain inundated the region, more than double the average. Track the current monsoon and see historically how much rain fell during each monsoon.
Green stormwater infrastructure: Passive stormwater collection systems incorporated into roadway systems and other landscape structures to retain and use stormwater for environmental and community benefits. Green infrastructure can help minimize the amount of runoff and pollutants that enter watercourses.
