(AGENPARL) - Roma, 19 Ottobre 2022 - (AGENPARL) – mer 19 ottobre 2022 EPA Awards nearly $3 Million In Grant Funding to Improve and Protect Water Quality in Arizona
Funds will support state projects and leverage local partnerships
415-214-5940
SAN FRANCISCO — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $2,765,000 to Arizona to implement the State’s Nonpoint Source Management Plan. Nonpoint source pollution is caused by rainfall moving over the ground, leading to runoff which picks up natural and man-made pollutants as it flows. NPS pollution, unlike pollution from industrial and sewage treatment plants, comes from many different sources.
“Arizona appreciates EPA’s continued support of our work to improve the quality of important surface waters,” said ADEQ Water Division Director Trevor Baggiore. “ADEQ will use these funds to continue surface water remediation projects that are reducing heavy metals in waters near legacy mine sites and reducing E. coli in Oak Creek, a designated Outstanding Arizona Water and popular recreation area. Our on-the-ground projects have already produced measurable improvements in surface water quality, including the return of fish and wildlife to these areas and significantly less E. coli in Oak Creek.”
“These grants will do much to advance our shared goal of protecting water resources in Arizona,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “Combined with state matching funds, EPA’s awards will help implement the best practices needed to reduce runoff-related pollution and improve water quality.”
In addition to using funding for projects at legacy mine sites at Lynx Creek (Middle Gila Watershed), Cienega Creek (Santa Cruz watershed) and the Babocamari River (San Pedro watershed), Arizona will also use a portion of the funds to monitor progress at previously remediated sites and conduct pollution source identification.
Nonpoint source pollution can impact lakes, rivers, and groundwater. Controlling nonpoint source pollution is especially important due to the harmful effects that the pollutants have on drinking water supplies, recreation, fisheries, and wildlife.
Environmental Protection Agency, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105 United States