PAG launches annual ‘Clean Water’ campaign | Environment

The Pima Association of Governments (PAG) is reminding residents of their 'Clean Water Starts with Me' campaign, since the monsoon is now officially underway.

PAG's campaign is encouraging everyone to do their part to prevent pollutants from building up in the water that ends up in desert washes.  How, some may ask do the pollutants end up in washes?  Stormwater flows into streets and then into the storm drains, but not before it passes through yards, sidewalks, and/or driveways where the water can easily pick up 'urban' pollutants. 

There are several simple tips to help keep the stormwater runoff from picking up pollutants.  Among the tips are:

• • Fix leaky vehicles
• • Properly dispose of used oils or leftover chemicals at household hazardous waste sites
• • Never dump waste in storm drains or washes
• • Harvest stormwater to green our streets and neighborhoods
• • Pick up where your dog left off
• • Get to know your neighborhood wash
• • Use yard chemicals sparingly and never before a storm
• • Don’t litter

Many residents don't realize that after stormwater fills up the storm drains, it flows untreated into area washes.  This is a problem because wild life in the area depend on these seasonal waterways for survival, even though they are not a constant.

The major emphasis this year is on how vehicles and their upkeep effect stormwater accumulation.  PAG is encouraging residents to use alternate forms of transportation and responsible car maintenance to keep stormwater clean.

Transportation features such as neighborhood intersection roundabouts are designed to collect stormwater that can lead to multiple benefits. Not only do roundabouts calm neighborhood traffic for pedestrians and bikes, they also are used to filter and purify water in small, manageable water harvesting areas. The harvested water is used to irrigate trees, which help cool the neighborhoods.

This, in turn, prevents stormwater runoff from potentially picking up pollutants on the way to the storm drain. Stormwater managers call this system of green, living streets, low impact design (LID).

PAG’s Stormwater Management Working Group, composed of all the local jurisdictions, has worked together for nearly a decade to share this cohesive message across the region to prevent stormwater pollution.

Remember that anything left on the land can end up in the water when the rains come. Share your awareness with others. Be on the lookout for our multi-media outreach campaign from July through September, provided in both English and Spanish.

Learn more about “Clean Water Starts With Me” at www.PAGstorm.com or find them on facebook.