Keeping our stormwater clean starts with each one of us. Even seemingly small actions like leaving pet waste on the ground and making extra trips by car can have a huge impact on our stormwater quality. For example, E. coli from animal waste and copper from car brake pads are among the most common pollutants found in our stormwater. Simple everyday habits such as cleaning up after pets, driving less, installing copper-free brake pads and harvesting stormwater in your landscape are a few steps you can take to help keep stormwater clean. Business owners and construction professionals can also do their part by properly maintaining vehicles and properties and by meeting permit requirements.
- See the Watershed Map Pocket Guide to learn more
Common stormwater pollutants
- Bacteria, viruses and parasites in pet waste, such as E. coli
- Copper
- Oil and engine fluids
- Soap and residues from car washing
- Litter
- Household hazardous wastes and products
- Fertilizers
- Pesticides, herbicides and insecticides
- Yard waste
- Eroded Soil
Apply the following pollution prevention tips at your home, business or construction site.
- Fix leaky vehicles
- Properly dispose of oil and automotive fluids
- Install copper-free brake pads in your vehicle
- Use commercial car washes
- Carpool, bus, bike or walk to depollute your commute
- Combine errands
- Buy non-toxic yard products
- Use and store yard chemicals safely
- Properly dispose of household hazardous waste (HHW)
- Dispose of HHW such as antifreeze, batteries, oil and paint at drop-off locations and collection events: City of Tucson HHW Program
- Pima County waste and recycling program
- Compost or properly dispose of landscape waste
- Recycle to reduce litter and solid waste
- Harvest rainwater or install green infrastructure to help filter and break down pollutants
- Practice Good Horse Keeping or Pick up Where Your Dog Left Off in our community to prevent pathogen pollutants.
- Report illegal dumping
- City of Tucson: online or (520) 791-5843, Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Pima County: (520) 724-7400, Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Pima County: (520) 622-5800, 24-hours/day
- Clean up litter in your community
- Keep dumpsters closed and leak free
- Plant trees to mitigate stormwater impacts
- If you drain your pool or spa water, backwash to the right location
Stormwater Outreach Toolkit
Stormwater pollution prevention education is an essential practice to reduce the neighborhood pollutants that accumulate in our waterways. PAG coordinated with its Stormwater Management Working Group to develop a shared outreach toolkit for all interested partners. The goal is to raise awareness about a nonpoint source of pollutants, such as runoff, and the importance of protecting desert water ways. Onsite imagery and consistent messaging help increase the recognition of clean water practices. The following toolkit provides a visual summary of these resources and includes slogans, ads, articles, signage, social media, and promotional/educational materials for educational use.
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Tips – Construction Industry
- Understand and comply with statewide permitting requirements and local regulations
- Develop effective stormwater pollution prevention plans
- Employ post-construction stabilization methods
- Install rainwater harvesting and green infrastructure to support final stabilization of landscaping
- Find out which local government or MS4 to work with
- Employ best management practices to keep sediment and other stormwater pollutants on site
- Construction Resources Guide
