Stormwater Quality
The Flood Control District of Maricopa County is involved in a program designed to clean urban stormwater runoff and protect our dry washes, rivers and urban lakes. We partner with other public agencies, towns and cities in Maricopa County to:
- Educate and inform the public about urban runoff pollution
- Encourage public participation in urban communities' clean-up events
- Help control construction activities to reduce erosion and pollution
- Help guide developing projects to include pollution controls that will continue to operate after construction is complete
- Work with industries and businesses to encourage pollution prevention
We also work with our own internal departments and divisions to ensure that our maintenance and development projects are designed to reduce pollution.
Urban Runoff
Polluted stormwater runoff is a leading cause of problems in nearly 40 percent of surveyed U.S. waters which currently do not meet water quality standards. Over land or via storm sewer systems, polluted runoff is discharged, often untreated, directly into local waters. When left uncontrolled, this water pollution can lead to the destruction of fish, wildlife and aquatic life habitats, a loss in aesthetic value and threats to public health. Stormwater that once soaked into the ground now flows quickly into street gutters and drains. It is then carried in pipes and channels to our rivers, dry washes and flood control structures without treatment. Along the way, the urban runoff picks up pollutants such as pesticides, fertilizers, eroded soil, and oil and grease from motor vehicles. Everyday activities also add water, such as car washing, lawn watering, and cleaning buildings and streets. Eventually, this affects all of us.
Take the first step by practicing water quality pollution prevention in your own home, then join in on the many activities and events sponsored throughout your local community.
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